Laois firefighters called to incidents in Kildare, Tipperary are left in limbo

Labour local area representative Bryan Corrigan has expressed his concern at the manner in which Laois firefighters have as he puts it 'left in limbo' by being dispatched to incidents outside the county because of shortages elsewhere.

As industrial action continues, Mr Corrigan, who is a former retained firefighter, claims that firefighters have been requested to go outside of the County to attend to incidents in border counties that are experiencing reduced levels of cover.

“One such instance occurred over the last weeks where Rathdowney Fire Station personnel were sent to an incident in Thurles, Co. Tipperary," he said.

He also claimed that Laois staff have to cover a large section of the Cork to Dublin motorway.

"I am also aware that the current national impasse between management and the Laois Fire Service has seen cover reduced to an extent that during certain periods including weekends the M8 Motorway will have no Fire Service RTA (Road Traffic Accident) cover from Mannor Stone Junction three as far as Fermoy in Co Cork Junction fourteen, thus leaving Rathdowney Fire Service as the nearest station expected to provide cover in the unfortunate event of a RTA. This section of the M8 Motorway represents a distance of over 100 kilometres.

He said Kildare also has to call on Laois firefighters.

"There are also regular requests made from neighbouring stations in Co. Kildare for Portlaoise Fire personnel and their assistance thus stretching resources even further across the county," he said. 

The Mountmellick Borris-in-Ossory representative said pay and conditions are at the centre of the ongoing dispute.

"From talking with local firefighters, one area that is frequently mentioned is the guaranteed payment by way of an annual Retainer and guaranteed calls (practice nights). The Retainer, which is paid on a quarterly basis, currently, stands at €8,870 per annum.

“As a retained firefighter myself, I recall being stationed at the Portlaoise Fire Station from 2003 to 2006 when the retainer then was circa €7,200 per annum and was aghast to learn that the Fire Fighters' wages and entitlements have not kept pace with other public sector pay in 2023.

“When compared with the average minimum wage although not like-for-like comparable, it does show the gross failure of this Government to respect the Fire Service and what it stands for. Mr Corrigan said from 2002 to 2023 the slowness with which the Government has respected the Fire Service is truly shocking with the minimum wage increments known to be
35% while the Fire Service Personal having only received a 19% increase in their retainer alone over the same time period," h said.

Mr Corrigan also claimed that there is a reluctance by management to fully honour agreements made in 1999 which is also feeding into the current situation.

"With this in mind, he said, the Ministers involved need to intervene.

“Clearly, the Government is out of its depth. It is time to end the stream of tokenistic and ineffective promises of better pay and conditions. The Government should wake up and treat and respect these brave and courageous men and women fairly and properly," he concluded.

No kidding around as goats detained by Portlaoise Gardai

Retained firefighters who are members of the trade union SIPTU are engaged in industrial action after rejecting a recommendation by the Labour Court that their retainer pay be increased by 24%