I met with local retained firefighters in my constituency last week. They are still waiting for the increased retainer that was promised to them last year. This was to be agreed before the public service pay talks commenced. Counties such as Roscommon and Galway, which I represent, are heavily dependent on the retained fire service. The delay in this increase is making the recruitment crisis across the retained fire service even worse. There are 27 vacancies in Galway alone. When will the increase be agreed, announced and paid to retained firefighters?

I will have to come back to Deputy Kerrane on that. To my recollection, a number of increases were agreed on foot of the resolution of the dispute in the summer and then increases agreed in the public service pay agreement, which has not yet been ratified by the unions.

I will come back to the Deputy with more detail when I can.