Firefighters deserve proper pay and a decent work-life balance.
That's according to Monaghan Senator Robbie Gallagher who says retained fire services are struggling to maintain adequate numbers to allow for safe operations with crew numbers in decline in all counties.
According to Senator Gallagher, a contributing factor for this is "inadequate pay."
Speaking to Northern Sound, Senator Gallagher revealed that whole-time retained fire-fighters earn approximately €700 per month which equates to 99c per hour.
He added firefighters feel let down, not only regarding pay but with regard to reform:
"I often say that emergency services are the people will look to to protect us in our moment of emergency and now they're coming to us saying that we want to do this job but because of the pay and conditions attached to it, we'll not be in a position to do it because we simply can't afford to do it. So, we're very lucky to have them in the first place. It's important now that we do look after them and I'm hopeful, Minister O'Donoghue will find some kind of way of rumunerating these people properly for the excellent and critical work that they do".
