Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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We wanted to expedite the implementation because we worked hard, and everyone did, to conclude a deal that worked for our firefighters and our personnel across the country. There will be €8 million in additional expenditure this year because the payments are backdated to July as part of the deal. This is additional pay and other allowances for training, turning out at incidents and things like that.

There will be an additional cost this year that would not have been there had we not concluded the deal. Next year we are providing for an additional €28 million in the full year, 2024. It is a good thing that we are able to front-load the implementation of the recommendations and to front-load and get payments out quicker to those firefighters - the men and women serving us in the retained fire services.