Amy Rohu
The Dublin Fire Brigade staffing crisis continues to worsen with 12 fire appliances off the road on New Year’s Eve due to lack of personnel.
Speaking about the issue, Sinn Féin Dublin City Cllr. Daithí Doolan said the staffing crisis
continues to worsen. “On December 31, 12 fire appliances were off the road because there was not enough personnel to staff them. Fire stations across Dublin were without fire engines, ambulances and rescue trucks.
“ There are currently 965 fire fighters in Dublin Fire Brigade. Standards dictate that this number should be over 1,000. The service now depends on overtime to keep it functioning. This is bad practice, putting the lives of fire fighters and the public they serve at risk.
Cllr Doolan called on management to work with unions in a bid to resolve the issue as a matter of urgency. “Recruitment needs to be a priority. But in the meantime there are 80 people on the staff panel waiting to be trained and employed. There are a further 300 applicants waiting to be interviewed. The solution to the crisis is obvious, it just requires management to take action.”
Dublin City Council said discussions on manning levels have been ongoing for some time now under the auspice of the WRC.
While progress has been made in a number of areas no final agreement has been reached. DCC/DFB management are fully committed to this process and anxious that an agreement on staffing numbers and other outstanding issues is reached as a matter of urgency.”
“DFB like all other departments in the Council have again found themselves facing more Covid-19 disruption and staffing challenges, with almost all sectors reporting staff impacts including shortages. The impact of this latest wave is compounding the ongoing DFB staffing difficulties,” said the statement.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DUBLIN FIRE BRIGADE TWITTER PAGE
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