John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline any progress he has made in getting an increase in the retainer paid to retained firefighters; if he has brought any proposals to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Implementation and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24306/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports fire authorities by establishing policy, setting national standards for fire safety and fire service provision, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects and the procurement of essential frontline fire appliances, ancillary vehicles and equipment.

Fire services are provided in Ireland by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Under this legislation, 31 local authorities provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures.

My Department continues to support the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) who are leading engagement with staff representatives on the implementation of recommendations contained within the Retained Review published in December 2022 and the WRC Agreement. I am monitoring the efforts of the LGMA and Fire Services Management to ensure that the implementation of the WRC agreement and while addressing the Chief Fire Officers annual conference in May I reiterated that implementation of the WRC agreement is my top priority for fire services in 2024.

When the WRC agreement was concluded, I committed to advocate for a further increase in the Retainer payment. During the most recent public service agreement negotiations, I engaged directly with Minister Paschal Donohoe at the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, supporting his Department's direct talks with SIPTU on the issue of the Retainer payment. The outcome of the that agreement reflects an agreed position with SIPTU as follows,

• "The parties commit to remain in process with a view to concluding the current retainer and associated attendance commitments for Retained Firefighters”.

Following the ratification by all stakeholders of the Public Service agreement 2024 – 2026, official engagement on the issue of the Retainer payment for Retained firefighters will shortly commence. This is a highly sensitive, deliberative industrial relations negotiation, led by the LGMA, which I will continue to monitor. I remain fully committed to the completion of a process on the Retainer payment.