'The fire service is broken': Donegal firefighters demand improved conditions

Firefighters in Donegal are calling on adequate resources with the Fire Service 'on its knees'.

Retained firefighters across the country entered phase two of a period of industrial action this week that could escalate to an all-out strike next week.

SIPTU, the union representing the firefighters, is asking for improved pay and conditions to address what 'a recruitment and retention crisis'.

There are 15 fire stations in Donegal with around 165 personnel attached; a number that is described as 'inadequate'.

Firefighters from five Donegal stations - Letterkenny, Donegal town, Killybegs, Dungloe and Buncrana – silenced their pagers for 24 hours of strike action at midnight on Monday. Five of Donegal's stations will be on strike on each day of the strike.

“The fire service is broken,” Letterkenny-based firefighter Steven Kelly, the SIPTU rep from the Letterkenny station, told Donegal Live.

“It is on its knees. To us, this is the only way to do it. Stations are undermanned all over the country and are on the verge of closing.

Donegal firefighters with politicians on Tuesday.

“Strike action is a last resort. We want to be in the stations and ready to respond to the communities. We are here because the Government and the Council have refused to engage.”

Letterkenny fire station, for instance, is a two-pump station that requires 15 personnel to be fully operational. There are just ten firefighters active in the station.

On Tuesday, there were only three firefighters in Falcarragh at a station that should cater for nine.

Firefighters held a peaceful picket at the County House in Lifford on Tuesday morning before picketing outside the Public Services Centre in Letterkenny in the afternoon ahead of a meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.

SIPTU's Kevin McKinney, who is representing the firefighters, said: “This is very, very difficult because of the moral compass and the vocational nature of the job. They do not want to be here doing this – but they have been left with no alternative.

“It is an absolute disgrace that they have been forced into this situation. We have been talking about the Fire Service not being fit for purpose for the last five years plus. At this point, we are left with no alternative but to challenge the powers that be to solve the problem.”

SIPTU representative Kevin McKinney with Donegal firefighters.

At the moment, if the Falcarragh unit is tasked, assistance from another station is required.

Retained firefighters are asking for a better work-life balance and for a better pay structure.

The starting rate for a retained firefighter is 8,500 which could rise to 10,500 in five years.

“If you were to take that into an hourly rate, it's 1.20 an hour,” Steven Kelly points out.

Some stations get very little calls, but they still have to be on-call. That is ongoing since I joined. It is about a work-life balance. You're working 24/7, responding in the middle of the night. There is no structured time off and no structured pay.

“Most of the fire service need a second income because we just don't get paid enough.

“We see it as an easy fix. The Fire Service needs resources. The only way to fix this is by giving it adequate resources.”

Last week, firefighters began their campaign, which involved refusal to co-operate with work outside of responding to emergency calls.

This week's rolling strikes could be a prelude to an all-out strike from June 20 if a solution is not forthcoming.

Mr McKinney said: “If you want a service that's fit for purpose, you need a resource. We want a rank and file restructure. The service now isn't fit for purpose because of the expectation.

“We have a lot of firemen coming up to retirement age and others can't sustain this any longer.

“Guys here have missed so much with their families, who give massive support. The families have to forego certain things just to allow these men to deliver to the communities that they serve.”

Letterkenny-based Sinn Fein Councillor Gerry McMonagle has called on the Donegal County Council to step up to the mark.

“This is a vocation and these people love their job,” Councillor McMonagle told Donegal Live.

“They are on call 24/7 and they have no family life. They can't organise things and it is time that we stepped up to the plate. Proper procedures have to be put in place to allow these guys enjoy the work and enjoy their family lives.

“This didn't happen overnight. These concerns have been raised for quite a while and nothing has been done. They were given plenty of fair warning and the fire personnel have their backs to the wall now. They just want a work-life balance and proper remuneration. These guys have to drop everything and respond to a bleep at times.”

Councillor McMonagle says he has communicated with Gary Martin, Donegal County Council's Head of Emergency Services, Chief Fire Officer Joseph McTaggart and the local authority's Chief Executive, John McLaughlin, urging them to do what they can 'to get this brought to a successful and early conclusion'.

Requests for fire brigade assistance should continue to be made as normal by dialling 999 or 112