A Workers’ Party representative has called for an increase in recruitment to Dublin Fire Brigade after a number of fire engines were unused on Halloween night due to understaffing.
David Gardiner is a firefighter, trade unionist and the Workers’ Party representative in Palmerstown-Fonthill. He said: “Understaffing in Dublin Fire Brigade puts extra pressure and stress on firefighters by stretching our resources, which in turn endangers members of the public.” “We had 133 Halloween-related fires this year on top of our usual work, and yet at one stage we had three trucks off the road, two of which were because of the low staffing levels while a third was attacked.”
“It might not sound like much, but having three trucks off the road could make a difference in how quickly a fire or an ambulance case in your house is attended to.” “The Workers’ Party is calling for an increase in recruitment into Dublin Fire Brigade to ensure safe staffing levels in order to properly serve the people and communities of Dublin.”
