Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley says the issues relating to retained Fire Fighters have “been well flagged with Government in the past and now need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.’’
“The fact the 90% of retained (part time) fire fighters have voted for strike action shows the deep level of frustration that these workers have with their terms and conditions,” said Deputy Stanley in a statement today.
” Throughout last year their unions and local Fire Fighters have been raising these issues and both myself and others have raised them on the floor of the Dail with the Taoiseach and Minister O’Brien.
“These Retained Fire Fighters have not had their terms and conditions reviewed for years.
“They have to remain within a five-minute travel distance from the local fire station. They are tied down to this 24/7 and find it almost impossible to get a weekend off. It also has implications for them taking up other employment and family life.’
“In Laois Offaly there have been problems trying to recruit new Fire Fighters and Local Authorities have struggled to fill these positions.
“The problems are compounded by the fact that some staff have left the service. This has led to a situation where crews in some of the 13 fire Stations have become depleted.
“The Department of Local Government did carry out a review last year to identify what the issues were and to propose actions to improve the service.
“The Government and Minister O’Brien now need to move as a matter of urgency and implement the recommendations in that report, in particular the ones in relations to the terms and conditions of employment’’
“I have met with representatives of the Fire Services in the Constituency on a number of occasions, and it is clear to me if Government does not take quick action to address the issues that are effecting their members, local services in rural counties like Laois Offaly will have problems manning local stations.”
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