Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I regret the situation that has evolved in Roscommon. The fire services, funded and managed by local authorities, are one of the finest community services. Roscommon County Council has six fire brigades which are manned by 56 retained firefighters in Ballaghaderreen, Boyle, Castlerea, Elphin, Roscommon and Strokestown. It is most regrettable, as Senator Kelly has said, that despite all the efforts by the parties and the machinery of the State we find ourselves in a situation where a number of firefighters have had to be stood down from duty.

Competence in the use of breathing apparatus is one of the basic requirements of carrying out the functions of a modern firefighter in a safe and effective manner. Initial training in the use of breathing apparatus provides firefighters with the necessary skills and knowledge to use breathing apparatus in a competent and safe manner. Breathing apparatus is a basic tool. It enables firefighters to enter smoke-filled buildings to search for casualties or to get close to the source of a fire for effective intervention. The Department has published national guidance to assist fire authorities to provide consistent and safe training in the use of breathing apparatus. The relevant documents are The Use of Breathing Apparatus in the Fire Service, published in 2007, and Guidance on the Provision and Assessment of Breathing Apparatus Training, published in 2010.

Breathing apparatus training involves both instruction to impart knowledge and practical exercises to enable learners to apply the knowledge gained in a series of progressive learning activities. It is also important that skill levels of firefighters are maintained and refreshed on a regular basis. For this reason, all firefighters are required to undertake breathing apparatus refresher training every two years. Furthermore, there are specific safety issues associated with firefighting and local authorities have statutory responsibilities for their workers under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. This includes ensuring that firefighters are sufficiently skilled and trained to undertake their duties safely for their own sake and for that of their colleagues and members of the general public.

Such training is an integral part of the fire service and must be undertaken, as required by fire authorities, by all personnel in order to enable them to comply with their statutory obligations. Firefighters who may be unsuccessful on a first attempt at reaching the required level of competency are afforded every opportunity to develop proficiency and demonstrate the required competence and knowledge. I understand that local authorities have given assurances that every effort will be made to address any competency deficiencies identified in refresher training in the shortest possible time - before the end of the training course, if that possibility exists. I note what Senator Kelly has said in respect of this matter in the context of firefighters in Roscommon.

The Labour Relations Commission has set out a set of interim guidance points in respect of this matter. I greatly welcome this. In my opinion, those guidance points form a good basis for moving forward from the current position. I strongly encourage those involved at management and union level to resolve the existing problems for the sake of members of the public, for whom the fire service is provided. I assure Senator Kelly that I will make inquiries in order to discover what progress has been made by the Labour Relations Commission and others to advance the case relating to the people to whom he Senator refers. I will do everything possible to ensure that there is an adequate fire service in Roscommon and to bring together the personnel who have been stood down and the management of the county council in order that they might find a satisfactory solution.