Dublin Fire Chief says Fire & Ambulance Service Model to continue

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe TD has welcomed the comments of the Dublin Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley that there are no discussions underway to remove Dublin Fire Brigade as a provider of ambulance services for Dublin city. It has been feared for some years now that plans were in motion to do so. Chief Fire Officer Keeley was addressing a meeting of Oireachtas Health Committee.

Teachta Crowe said:“I was very glad to hear in the last Oireachtas Health Committee from the Dublin Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley that there are no discussions underway to remove Dublin Fire Brigade as a provider of ambulance services for Dublin city.

“It has been a growing concern for some time that Dublin Fire Brigade would no longer provide ambulance cover in Dublin and would be replaced by the National Ambulance Service. I believe the joint medical model of fire and medical emergency response is one that works well in Dublin and should be held up as an example to how emergency response should look state-wide.

“It has been said that Dublin is one of the best cities in the world to have a heart attack in. It may be an unusual moniker, but it is down to the fast response and extremely skilled personnel of the Dublin Fire Brigade. I would hate to see them removed from the equation having served the people of Dublin so well and for so long.

“What is needed now is additional support from Government to get more personnel trained up and graduated into Dublin Fire Brigade. It also needs a massive investment to replace the ageing vehicle fleet of the service. Dublin is a city that grows larger every year. We cannot afford to scrimp and save when it comes to emergency response. It only puts the lives of citizens and fire crews at risk.

“I welcome the Chief Fire Officer’s statement on the current medical model, but the gaps in supports and services need to be addressed with urgency.”