Defence Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Ceisteanna (74)

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

74. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will prioritise, as a matter of urgency, the retention of the fire station at the Curragh, its services being critical not only to our Defence Forces on-site, but also to the wider community, where frequently they are the sole fire service available, with such services being staffed and provided by highly skilled, committed, valuable personnel who need to be retained within our Defence Forces. [42776/23]

Freagraí ó Béal (12 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Réada Cronin

I would like to ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will prioritise, as a matter of urgency, the retention of the fire station at the Curragh Camp, its services being critical not only to our Defence Forces on-site, but also to the wider community, where frequently they are the sole fire service available, with such services being staffed and provided by highly skilled, committed, valuable personnel who need to be retained within the Defence Forces.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. No proposals have been made to me in respect of the fire service in the Defence Forces Training Centre, DFTC, in the Curragh Camp and I have made no decision in relation to it. I just want to make that clear because I did hear of reports in August which were a surprise to me at the time. They were not brought to my attention in any formal way prior to that. Since then, the military authorities have confirmed that proposals on the fire service are under consideration and that no decision has been made in respect of them. I was surprised by the current narrative on the imminent closure of the DFTC fire station and I was not happy with that emerging in the manner in which it did. I can understand the frustration and anxiety caused to those members and their families by this narrative. I want to make it clear that no decision has been made and no formal proposal has yet been submitted.

The Deputy's broader question about its application to the wider community would need some discussion with the local authorities. I do not believe it is the role of the Defence Forces to be the fire service. Under the local authority, there are existing frameworks and structures to ensure adequate fire safety and cover. Of course, obviously, in any event we are there to supplement and support the civil fire service and to be of assistance but it should not be the only service.

Deputy Réada Cronin

I thank the Tánaiste for his answer although I am a little bit perturbed that this would - I know he was working overseas at the time but it is a bit perturbing----

Deputy Micheál Martin

Sorry?

Deputy Réada Cronin

It is a bit perturbing to hear that the first the Tánaiste heard about this was in the media. That is upsetting. I have met with a few of the families of the people who are working in the fire station there in the Curragh. Since I joined the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, I am really struck by the great sense of duty of the people who come in to talk to us, members of the Defence Forces. We had the Secretary General in last week and she was talking about the importance of retaining personnel with specific capabilities. That is exactly what these people are. I was talking to the wife of one of them recently. The Tánaiste might recall that there was a very bad fire in McDonald's in Newbridge about two months ago. There was also an accident on the road at the Curragh. The car overturned and a young woman would have been waiting two hours for help were it not for the local fire station. They are always available to the community as well when the Newbridge fire station is otherwise occupied.

Deputy Micheál Martin

My understanding is that it is part of the implementation of the working time directive. I have taken an initiative to accelerate work on the working time directive and in that context there were consultations with the representative associations by the military authorities. They indicated that they were reviewing current operational outputs and that the fire service in the Curragh camp was one of a number of areas under review. That was the context. Again, that review is not complete.

I have not received any recommendations and at this point no decisions have been made regarding the operation of the fire service at the Curragh Camp continuing, ending or whatever was reported. I hear what Deputy Cronin says and I assure her that I will give the matter the most comprehensive assessment in the event of the recommendations coming from the military authorities.

My view of the working time directive is that it is about health and safety. It is not about cutting services. It is about health and safety in the first instance. I stress that it is not the role of the Defence Forces to take over the role of the local authorities, which have responsibility for fire safety in the geographic area of Kildare County Council.

Deputy Réada Cronin

I agree.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I think Deputy Cronin would accept that too.

Deputy Réada Cronin

I accept that. The workers who work in the Curragh fire station are extremely experienced individuals. Munitions are also kept in the Curragh Camp in Kildare and it is important that we have a fire service there. I went to have a look at the facility. When you lose something like that, it is gone and it is hard to get it back. Apart from the monitoring of munitions, every six months these personnel also work overseas. They provide fire cover in locations where we are peacekeeping overseas. The service is very important. I would love if a decision could be made quickly and could be provided to me. I have no doubt that for the personnel working in the fire station for the Defence Forces in the Curragh Camp, it will not be a question of getting them to move somewhere else. If the fire station in the Curragh Camp closes, they are going to be leaving. We hear again and again at the defence committee about retention. I have referred to it in questions to the Tánaiste as well. Retention must be the first thing we address, apart from recruitment. Keeping who we have must be the first port of call. I would appreciate if the Tánaiste would let me know as soon as he has any information on that because families are very anxious about this.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I appreciate that. I also appreciate that the members concerned are anxious given the reviews that have been under way. I see the organisation of working time directive as a positive development, and one that I am very anxious to see brought to completion, in the interests of health and safety.

Deputy Réada Cronin

I would be delighted if that is the case.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I do not suggest that Deputy Cronin would not be. In terms of the fire service, of course we want to retain a multidisciplinary approach and to have various skill sets within the Defence Forces. All the local public representatives have been in touch. I understand there is a local context to this issue, and a family context to it in terms of the personnel and then there is the broader policy. I will revert back to the Deputy on it.

Question No. 75 taken with Written Answers.