Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House to reply to these Adjournment debates. However, it is the duty of the relevant line Minister or Minister of State to come before the House to answer the questions that are pertinent to their Departments. The Minister of State before us today should not be asked to double up for people who are absent. It is regarded as an insult to the House; not by him, but by those who are absent.

This Adjournment matter relates to the decision by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to disqualify part-time firefighters from an entitlement to jobseeker's allowance on the basis that they must be available for work outside their immediate vicinity, with the obvious hardship consequences arising from commitments already entered into in better times.

In view of the fact that part-time firefighters were paid by local authorities, a decision was made several years ago that they would qualify for social welfare benefit or assistance if they needed it during the course of a particular year. The part-time service was not sufficient to maintain a reasonable income. The decision was taken in 1996 to establish the practice whereby they would qualify for the payment within certain specified limits. The standards were laid down, but it appears that the current Minister has arbitrarily changed this in line with other cuts. Unfortunately, part-time firefighters have already entered into commitments such as mortgages and expenditure last year.

There will now be a serious diminution in the quality and the availability of firefighters working on a part-time basis. They will be forced to seek jobs outside of their immediate area. Incidentally, notwithstanding the good news given by the Minister of State a short while ago, there is much bad news out there on the jobs front at the moment. Many people are losing their jobs, and how does the Minister expect that these people have a better chance than anyone else to seek jobs in that very competitive market? I do not think it is possible. I do not expect the Minister of State to comment on this, other than to give me the precooked version that has come from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

It is appalling that this is occurring at a time when local authorities are facing cutbacks at every level, such as the 80 people who were let go by Kildare County Council in the past couple of weeks. The fire service is a very important service on which the community depends 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any interference with it can only result in an inferior quality of service. It can result in loss of life. We all know the consequences of this. Every Member has experience of the part-time firefighters being first on the scene, and in many cases giving their lives. It is a serious issue, and I ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to review this situation and restore the status quo.

The part-time fire service depends on the availability of part-time firemen and women. In order for that service to succeed, these people need to be working in their immediate area. When there has been a succession of job losses in any particular area, there are obviously problems created. We know that as well from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. To attempt to force them to seek employment outside their area, ensuring that they cannot provide a service to the fire department in their local area, is absolutely counter-productive. Will the Minister of State please convey to the absent Minister our concerns and disappointment, and ask her to review the situation?

See this speech in context