A full-time fire service operates in Cork City, Dublin City, Limerick City and Waterford City. Dublin City Council, in addition provides a full time service on behalf of the other three Dublin authorities: — Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown, Fingal (excluding Skerries and Balbriggan which are covered by a retained fire service) and South Dublin County Councils. Galway County Council provides a full-time service for Galway City. Drogheda Borough Council and Dundalk Town Council each provide a full time service between the hours of 09.00 and 23.00.
The number of full-time personnel employed in these fire authorities at 1st January 2006 is 1,296. This figure is broken down as follow: — Cork City Council — 148, Drogheda Borough Council — 19, Dublin City Council — 962, Dundalk Town Council — 21, Galway County Council — 42, Limerick City Council — 67 and Waterford City Council — 37.