Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the office of the Ceann Comhairle for including this item for debate. Everyone inside and outside the House appreciates the valuable work firefighters carry out in our communities. There is no disagreement about this. It is worth noting and acknowledging that the majority of firefighters are part time. The principal points on which I wish to focus relate to the Keeping Communities Safe document published in October, and the policy of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on the fire service. The policy document proposes reducing the number of national divisions from 34 to 21, which is a substantial change. Fire service personnel are of the view that serious problems emanate from the report and the policy. They are concerned that the reduction in front-line numbers will endanger public safety. In many communities people are reluctant to ring a fire station because of the continuing myth they will be charged an astronomical amount of money. This is not the truth. According to the firefighters to whom I have spoken, many people first telephone the Garda Síochána and not the fire service about a fire because of this concern about the cost.

Fire service personnel are also concerned about the lack of consultation about the document. They claim efforts have been made to discuss the policy but without success. They claim that of the more than 20 items they have raised they have received comprehensive replies to only two. These people have a legitimate argument to make. They believe there should be a rethink about the policy and that the Department should engage more fully with them. Given the nature of how our society has changed, and the number of people living in apartments, firefighters should not have to go on strike over an issue such as this. There should be greater consultation to try to get the matter resolved before it reaches the stage where people are on strike.

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