Cork City fire service is most expensive

The country’s most expensive fire service costs three times more to run per head of population than the cheapest, but it also gets to almost four times more fires within the critical 10- minute period than the cut- price comparison.

Cork City Council runs the dearest fire service, with costs running at €93.13 for every person in the service’s catchment area. That compares with just €28.25 per person to run the service provided by Kildare County Council.

However, Cork City’s service, which is full time, is at the scene of 89% of fires within ten minutes, compared to the part-time service in Kildare which can only get to 24% of fires within that time frame.