SIPTU has today (Monday 13th April) welcomed the Government’s new investment plan for the country’s full-time and retained fire services but highlighted serious gaps of grave concern.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage published a statement on Tuesday (7th April), announcing that the government would invest €328.5 million in fire and emergency services through the Fire Services Capital Programme (2026–2030).
In a statement, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, stated: “The programme, developed by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), sets out a comprehensive plan to modernise Ireland’s fire service fleet, infrastructure, training capability and communications systems to meet the evolving risks facing communities nationwide.”
While SIPTU welcomes the plan, the Union is deeply concerned about the lack of investment in fire service personnel and the failure to introduce a reformed pension plan for new entrants to the Full-time Fire Brigades, the Defence Forces, the Prison Service and An Garda Síochána.
SIPTU Local Authorities Sector Organiser, Con Casey, said: “For years, SIPTU has been calling for increased investment in our Fire Services. Underfunded services have meant all too often that firefighters have had to go above and beyond to meet the demands of demographic growth and new complex risks.
“Over the years, new fire stations were often promised but never delivered, so this announcement is welcome. However, proper investment also requires a proper understanding of the risks in our urban and rural environments, and this is still lacking and remains a matter of grave concern.”
He added: “Investment in the Fire Services must also mean investment in fire service personnel. These men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe, but again the Government and Minister Browne have missed an opportunity to provide a decent pension for them when they retire.”
SIPTU Organiser, Geoff McEvoy, said: “SIPTU is part of the Secure our Future coalition with representatives of the Defence Forces, Prison Service, and An Garda Síochána. This campaign highlights the shortcomings in the pension for new entrants into these services that can push them into financial hardship in the first years of their retirement. Despite commitments from the Minister’s own party before the last election, nothing has been done to address this.”
He added: “Investment in our Fire Services doesn’t just mean new fire appliances; it also means investing in the people who crew them. Sadly, those people, along with the other uniformed service personnel, continue to be ignored by this government.”