Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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294. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress in addressing the difficulties in retaining part-time firefighters and improving their terms and conditions. [8272/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing the legislative framework, running a central training programme and issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects. The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) manages fire service issues in my Department.

Fire services in Ireland are provided by the local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Under this legislation, 31 authorities provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 217 fire stations nationwide deliver local authority fire services, 16 of these stations being staffed by full-time firefighters, a further 4 are mixed full-time and retained, and 197 are staffed by retained firefighters, with approximately 2,065 retained firefighters around the country. It is important to note that the numbers of fire service front-line staff have been maintained at a constant high level throughout the economic challenges of the past number of years, even when staffing numbers, by necessity, were reduced in other areas of the local authority sector.

In May 2021, I directed the Management Board of the NDFEM to review the delivery and sustainability of the local authority ‘Retained’ Fire Services, with particular emphasis on the recruitment and retention of personnel.

Following the recommendation of the NDFEM Management Board, I approved the review report for publication by my Department in December 2022. The report can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/242869/d04df987-07f5-40d5-8121-e9767141de49.pdf#page=null.

Publication of this review builds on the progress made implementing the “Keeping Communities Safe” policy, setting the future strategic direction of the Retained Fire Service.

The review report is the culmination of:

- the comprehensive engagement of retained firefighters with an independent research survey conducted during 2021. (Over 900 members of the retained firefighting service both serving and those recently retired/ resigned took part)

- the comprehensive engagement of senior fire service management with an independent research survey during 2021

- a comparative analysis of service delivery models with other EU fire services

- further direct engagement with staff representatives throughout the process via the Fire Services National Oversight and Implementation Group (Retained), facilitated by the Local Government Management Association (LGMA).

It is clear from the findings of the review that the work/life balance for retained firefighters needs to be addressed to make the retained fire service an attractive employment option. It is important that as we move to improve recruitment and retention, we also endeavour to prioritise inclusion and diversity within the Fire Service. The significant challenge in delivering change is balancing the organisational requirement and ability to respond with the life needs of the individual retained firefighters.

With a view to progressing implementation of all recommendations, engagement is proceeding via the established forums for the relevant stakeholder representative bodies. The most recent engagement of the Fire Service National Oversight and Implementation Group took place on 27 January 2023 with a further meeting scheduled to take place on 22 February 2023.