Members of Monaghan County Council unanimously supported the proposal by Retained Fire & Rescue Personnel for better pay, conditions and decent work/life balance.
The motion was submitted by local members of Sinn Féin and Fine Gael and was proposed by Cllr Colm Carthy and seconded by Cllr David Maxwell.
Speaking at this week's council meeting, Cllr Carthy said local firefighters are working in relatively low paid jobs just so that they can be close to their fire station when they are on call.
He said that over the last few weeks he has made it his business to speak to local firefighters in Co. Monaghan, specifically in Carrickmacross and Castleblayney and the reality is; if changes are not made, and made quickly,
we are going to have major problems in running a fire service in this county.
He added that Firefighters have a very difficult job, putting their lives at risk on a daily basis and seeing horrors that would make the rest of us lose our minds, yet they have to come to councilor's and members of the public to fight on their behalf.
Cllr Carthy concluded that this motion is aimed at the government to help this situation and other local authorities to retain and increase fire service crews, according to Cllr Carthy he believes Monaghan County Council can "do more" as a local authority.
