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The Irish Fire and Emergency Services Association (IFESA ) said today (Tuesday) that a commitment from Social Protection Minister, Joan Burton that retained fire-fighters will be entitled to social welfare payments is important for the fire safety of communities throughout the country.

IFESA National Chairman, John Kidd said IFESA had warned that the treat to the social welfare payments of retained fire-fighters could drive hundreds of trained and committed fire-fighters from the fire service and increase the fire risk for the public and communities around the country.

‘IFESA made it very clear that part-time fire-fighters were being denied jobseeker's payments because their positions as fire-fighters mean they are limited in the jobs they can take on. Hundreds of the country's part-time fire-fighters – who make up well over two thirds of the national fire services, were affected by this situation and it was clearly going to impact seriously on the fire safety of local communities if these fire-fighters were forced to quit their posts.'

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the interview starts at 43.30

http://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=9%3A10115717%3A70%3A02%2D03%2D2013%3A

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