Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Scanlon for raising this important issue and I understand his reasons for bringing it forward. Fire services, in all their facets, are delivered by people. On behalf of the Government, I want to recognise the contribution that all staff in the fire services, both the retained services and the full-time services in Dublin city, make in protecting our communities. I talk to them a lot and I understand the work they do, which they take very seriously at all levels. The Deputy is right that they are constantly updating their skills and trying to push themselves to new levels of expertise. They are genuine in their work and always want to help and serve, which is what they are there for. Over the years, fire services have evolved to give us the quality services we have today, which continue to drive down the annual toll of fire related deaths, injuries and damage.

Fire authorities are subject to legislation as employers in their statutory roles of providing fire services. It is expected that fire services in Ireland will facilitate and provide effective intervention in accordance with the dual statutory responsibilities of fire authorities to protect people and property from fire and also to protect their own employees. This objective presents the challenge of ensuring that personnel achieve and maintain the necessary competence for the range of roles and activities they may be designated to undertake. As I said, I have witnessed them involved in continuing training and education to enhance their skills.

International research indicates that a retirement age of 55 is the optimum age to ensure firefighters are capable of satisfactorily performing the tasks expected of them. The retirement age of 55 years was introduced because of health and safety considerations related to the job. Since the enactment of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, and under subsequent legislation, each fire authority, as an employer, has a statutory duty to avoid placing employees at risk. A full-time firefighter is statutorily required to retire at age 55 under the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004. This retirement age reflects the physically demanding nature of the firefighter role. The retirement age for retained firefighters is 55, with an extended period to age 58, subject to a formal application process, including a compulsory medical assessment.

A collective agreement was reached between the Local Government Management Services Board and the trade unions involved, SIPTU and the ATGWU, in November 2002. This collective agreement provided,inter alia, for the appointment of an expert group which in turn would advise as to the retirement age for retained firefighters. The expert group's report on retirement age recommended that the retirement age for retained firefighters remain at 55, with provision for an annual extension, subject to medical assessment, up to 58 years of age. Following the report of the expert group, published in April 2003, a circular was issued by the Department in November 2003 setting out the age requirements in regard to retained firefighters in line with the expert report.

In general, any changes proposed by either management or unions are negotiated using the established industrial relations processes. Our fire services are evolving and remain an essential service which plays a vital role both in local communities and nationally. My Department wants to ensure that this service is provided efficiently, safely and with due regard given to the terms and conditions applying to fire authority employees.

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