Retained Fire Services in Ireland - “A Review of Recruitment and Retention and the Future Sustainability of Service Delivery"

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in 2021 directed the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) to review the delivery and sustainability of the local authority ‘Retained’ Fire Services, with particular emphasis on the recruitment and retention of staff. Following substantial engagement with retained firefighters, staff representatives, fire service senior management and local authority employers, together with in depth research and analysis of the current model, the project team completed a review titled “Retained Fire Services in Ireland - A Review of Recruitment and Retention and the Future Sustainability of Service Delivery”.

Retained Firefighters provide an invaluable service that is essential to their communities. There is no doubt that the efforts of retained firefighters and those of their full-time colleagues primarily save lives, prevent damage to residential and commercial property, protect critical infrastructure and safeguard the environment. The work of these brave men and women can be dangerous, physically challenging, and psychologically demanding. Our firefighters are an elite frontline service staffed by very dedicated and selfless people, serving their communities around the clock.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is very aware of the challenges associated with both the recruitment and retention of retained fire personnel being experienced by some local authorities around the country. This is the reason the Minister directed the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management to review the model of local authority ‘Retained’ fire services delivery. The issue itself is not unique to Ireland, with similar issues pertaining for the service model of “on-call firefighters” in other parts of the EU.

The significant challenge in delivering change is balancing the organisational requirement and ability to respond, with the requirement to improve working arrangements for individual retained firefighters. The implementation of the recommendations of this review will progress immediately. An implementation plan will be developed and overseen by the NDFEM Strategic Implementation Group (SIG) to address the core issues identified and implement the change necessary to ensure the continued delivery of an effective and efficient Retained Fire Service. There will be a continuation of engagement with all stakeholders throughout the implementation phase, via the established forums.

This review is intended to support our retained firefighters, improve working structures within the retained fire services in Ireland and ultimately ensure the best service possible for communities that are served so well by the retained fire services across the country.

Contact:

National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management,

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage,

Rm. G59,

Custom House,

Dublin 1,

D01 W6X0