PRESS RELEASE: PROPOSALS FOR CUTS IN FIRE SERVICE WILL COST LIVES WARNS IFESA

The Irish Fire & Emergency Services Association (IFESA) today (Tuesday ) said it is concerned about recent consultation documents that have been released by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.

IFESA believes that these documents raise the potential for cuts in the numbers of front line Fire Fighters in the Irish Fire Service. John Kidd Chairperson of IFESA said:“We are very concerned at the implications of the proposals set out in these documents which clearly point to plans to cut front line Fire Fighters number by hundreds around the country and up to 200 alone in Dublin Fire Brigade.

These plans if implemented will compromise the safety of the citizens in Dublin and throughout the rest of the country.”

Mr Kidd said these proposals were being considered while the number of Chief Fire Officers & Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Ireland continues to grow and now stand at over 350.

“There has to be reform from the top down in management. 95% of these Chiefs have never been operational Fire Fighters, never mind fought a fire or performed CPR”

The spirit of the Croke Park agreement is to deliver a better public service to the citizens of Ireland, t. IFESA believe this can be achieved with a very simple approach that will deliver a better future for the emergency services in Ireland.

That approach is to Nationalise the Irish Fire Service by amalgamating the 30 different Brigades around the country to form a National Fire And Ambulance service that will deliver real savings and at the same time improve the quality of the services provided nationally.”

“We believe that the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management now wish to cherry pick from these reports and implement the parts that deliver cuts while ignoring the proposals that would deliver a better and safer fire service.

“IFESA believes that any further cuts in the fire services will cost lives and create greater risks for both Fire Fighters and citizens. IFESA is determined to resist any further cuts in the fire services as set out in these proposals and are calling on all elected politicians, and the general public to support us in our stand.”

NOTE TO EDITORS : Dublin Fire Fighters will be celebrating their 150 years serving the citizens of Dublin this bank holiday weeks and IFESA would lik e to congratulate them on this important anniversary.

For Comment:

John Kidd : 087 6588 999

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