Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2021
339. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will conduct a full review of the retained aspect of the retained members of the State’s provision of firefighters in the context of health and safety in view of the fact that some retainers are on a standby for up to 120 hours per week; and if he has considered the outcomes of the Matzak case in this context. [62765/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy and progressing legislation, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding support for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
The prioritisation and effective management of all resources is, in the first instance, a matter for each of the fire authorities based on their assessment of local needs and requirements. In relation to the staffing requirements in each local authority, under the Local Government Act 2001, it is the responsibility of each Chief Executive to employ such staff and to make such staffing, funding, recruitment and organisational arrangements as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of their local authority.
The Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management mandated a small internal project team to undertake a review of the model of local authority ‘retained’ fire services delivery, with an emphasis on the recruitment/ retention of staff and other developments which could have implications for service provision.
The objective of the review is to explore and understand the issues which are impacting on service delivery, to undertake research and analysis and to propose options which will underpin the continuing provision of effective and inclusive local authority fire services into the future. The Project Team will work with and report to the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management Fire Service Operations Committee and may, subject to appropriate approval, seek additional resources or set up relevant sub-group(s) to provide advice or to assist it in the performance of its functions.
The initial engagement element of the review is the gathering of appropriate data and information, to inform the needs analysis and option appraisals for further development. To that end, the project team have secured the services of an independent consultant who will survey the views of the personnel who work in the retained fire services and those who have recently retired from the retained fire services. That feedback in conjunction with consultation at appropriate stages with all key stakeholders during the review process, including central and local government, the public, fire service management/staff, and the staffing interest groups will form the basis of the final review report.
It is the expectation of the project team that the final review report will be submitted to the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management. At that time the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management will make a determination on the publication of the report.
