Senator Robbie Gallagher met with members of the Cavan and Monaghan Fire Services at the Dail earlier this week where he listened to their concerns around retention, recruitment and health and safety.
The Monaghan Senator later raised the matter in the Seanad. Senator Gallagher says that if appropriate measures are not taken now to deal with the difficulties in the sector, Ireland will find itself without a viable fire service.
Speaking to Northern Sound, he pointed out that staff are leaving because it's not financially viable for them to remain. The Monaghan Senator added that it's time for a national discussion on the matter.
"People are applying and people want to become a fire fighter because they feel they are giving something back to their community. There is a cost involved in training those people but once they are in the environment for a while they realise that from a financial perspective, they can't afford to stay there - much as they would like to. So they are then leaving," Senator Gallagher said.
