Dublin South West representative Seán Crowe TD has called on the
public to get behind Dublin’s Firefighters and support their demands
for critically low staffing levels to be addressed.

Crowe said that the huge vote (96% of SIPTU members balloted for
industrial action) reflects the widespread concerns shared by
Firefighters that the service is being run down to a critical level
and that any reduced service is going to impact on safety and people’s
lives.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Dublin Fire Brigade have voted in favour of industrial action, up to
and including strike action around plans to row back on the recruitment
of new Firefighters.

“96 per cent of SIPTU have taken the unprecedented step and voted for
industrial action with 87 per cent voting for strike action in a
recent ballot.

“Staff shortages have reached a “critical point”, with members being
forced to do huge amounts of overtime as there is no cover for people
out sick, on holidays or having retired.

“The decision to contain recruitment within a closed panel has
previously exacerbated the problem and doesn’t make any sense to
continue with this practice.

“Staff shortages also mean that  crew levels can be down by as much
as 15 to 20% on what they should be, and this is seriously impacting
on the level of cover across the greater Dublin area.

“Any reduced service will inevitably impact on safety and directly on
peoples lives.Reduced staffing also puts firefighters’ lives and their
safety at a an even greater risk.

“Behind the threat of strike action is the unpalatable reality that
the fire service in Dublin is not up to the high standards  that we
have come to demand and expect.

“A Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
directive makes recommendations in relation to retained fire-fighting
crew levels which firefighters believe will pose a threat to public
health and safety.

“Dublin Fire Brigade representatives estimate that the staff cohort is
currently at 70 firefighters below the required number to meet safety
standards, with this gap  expected to rise to 100 by January 2016.

“I am calling on the Dublin public to support the just demands of
these firefighters who are taking a stand  for safety and a credible
fire service.

“Environment Minister Alan kelly needs to use his office to urgently
address the firefighter shortage and Dublin’s pending fire safety
crisis.”