Breathing apparatus training
Boland pressed for breathing-apparatus training for retained firefighters in north County Dublin and some Dublin City personnel. Burke said there was no departmental hold-up, urged the Corporation and county council to agree, and said he would meet a firemen’s deputation.
In the course of his reply the Minister referred to courses in the use of breathing apparatus and also referred to retained stations. Can the Minister state what steps, if any, he has taken to have courses in the use of breathing apparatus made available for the personnel in the retained stations in County Dublin as well as courses in the use of breathing apparatus for certain of the full-time personnel in the Dublin city fire service?
Comment on this
There seems to be some misunderstanding about this question and some view that there is in some way a hold-up in the Department with regard to the training in the breathing apparatus. This is not so. There was a recommendation in 1976, which was eventually cleared in 1978, and there is no outstanding sanction requested by Dublin corporation in my Department. I accept that there is some disagreement between Dublin Corporation and the county council. This is something I would like to see sorted out and I agree with the Deputy that it needs to be sorted out. There is no hold up in my Department with regard to this question.
Comment on this
I asked what steps the Minister was going to take to have the part-time firemen in the retained stations of Swords, Balbriggan, Skerries and Malahide trained in the use of breathing apparatus and also, in relation to some of the full-time firemen in the Dublin City service, whom I understand have not been trained in the use of breathing apparatus, to have breathing apparatus courses made available to them? What steps does the Minister intend taking to have this carried out? The Minister should not blame somebody else? Will he say what he intends to do?
Comment on this
This is a matter between Dublin Corporation and the county council, I trust they are aware of my concern in this area and that they will come to an amicable agreement and have the training carried out. As far as questions of training and other areas of some concern to the fireman in the Dublin region are concerned, I have agreed to meet a deputation of the firemen and I will meet them next week.