Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide information as to the total cost of employing retained fire-fighters in 2011; the total costs involved in providing training, uniforms and other associated costs to retained fire-fighters; if he will provide such information pertaining to each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16355/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Outside of the main cities which have full-time fire services, fire services are provided by a retained staffing system. Retained firefighters are employees of fire authorities, and are organised to provide a full professional fire service for their communities. They are equipped, supervised and operate to the same procedures as their full time colleagues. At the end of December 2011, there were 2,077 retained firefighters employed by local authorities. While the information requested in the question is not available in my Department, retained firefighters are paid an annual retainer and an hourly drill rate the figures for which are detailed in the table.

Question No. 393 answered with Question No. 391.