Dublin Fire Brigade 'under staffed and under resourced'

Dublin City Sinn Féin Councillor Noeleen Reilly is calling on the chief executive officer of Dublin City Council to engage in a full scale recruitment process for the Dublin Fire Brigade and to look at why there are such few women working in the service.

“Out of the 673 fire fighters in the Dublin Fire Brigade only 38 of these are women. The Dublin Fire Brigade have an exemplary record in providing services to the citizens of Dublin yet they are continuously left under staffed and under resourced," said Ms Reilly.

"It is quite clear from the number of Women employed in the service that female fighters are not actively encouraged to join the service.”

She further added, “We do not have enough fire fighters and we certainly do not have enough women fire fighters.

"Fire fighters are being asked to work ridiculous hours and when on duty there is no respite for them. For example when they come back in from a job, they have to wash down their own trucks before they go out on another job.

"We are coming up to Halloween and the Dublin Fire Brigade is running at 70 crew less than the required level for safety standards. The Fire service is a matter of life and death and shortage of staff puts lives at risk."