by Louise Doyle
CLAIMS Letterkenny Fire Service is facing significant cuts which could lead to compromised public safety have been refuted.
In a letter sent to this newspaper from a senior station officer at Letterkenny Fire Station, deep concerns were highlighted that the drastic and imminent reduction in resources will jeopardise public safety in an area of increasing risk, and result in job losses.
The letter, signed on behalf of Donegal County Council Fire Service, states fire officers were informed that Letterkenny Fire Services are facing significant cuts, including the removal of the second fire engine, a substantial reduction in crew numbers, leading to job losses and the loss of the vital water tanker and incident command vehicle for Letterkenny.
The correspondence was also critical of the justification for the cuts given by management, and of the way in which they were told.
“These resources are essential for effectively responding to emergencies and ensuring the safety of both the public and our firefighters, as well as maintaining local employment.
“The decision to implement these cuts has been presented to us as a fait accompli, with management stating that the changes will proceed regardless of our concerns. We were told, ‘if you don’t like it, take us to court’. This dictatorial approach is deeply disrespectful and undermines the vital role we play in protecting our community and providing local jobs.
“We are particularly troubled by the justification given for these cuts. We are being told that these reductions are a consequence of firefighters seeking a better work-life balance. While we firmly believe in the importance of work-life balance for all workers, including firefighters, we refuse to accept that the safety of our community and the livelihoods of our firefighters should be compromised as a result. It is unconscionable to punish firefighters for seeking reasonable working conditions, and, more importantly, to punish the public by diminishing the emergency services they rely upon, and to damage the local economy by job losses,” the letter states.
The letter outlines the devastating impact cuts will have, highlighting the loss of the water tanker in Letterkenny will severely hamper their ability to fight fire, especially in areas with limited water supply.
Increased vulnerability due to the difficulty of backup from Stranorlar, which can be delayed by up to 30 minutes due to traffic on the Port Road, was also stressed in the letter, as was slower response times and a diminished ability to effectively handle complex emergencies.
Implications arising from much needed ongoing developments in Letterkenny, such as the new 100-bed community hospital and multiple housing projects, were also highlighted.
“These developments significantly increase the risk profile of Letterkenny, making the proposed resource cuts an incredibly dangerous backward step.
A petition on Uplift, ‘Save Letterkenny’s Fire Service’ has reached 1,000 signatures.
But in a statement, Donegal County Council Fire Service Management have refuted the claims made in the letter as “inaccurate, untrue, self-serving and deeply misleading”.
“Such scaremongering is deeply unfair to the people served by the Donegal County Council Fire Service and it is not acceptable to fire service management that staff members make such comments. In that context, fire service management will be discussing this matter with the Letterkenny firefighters in the coming days.
“Donegal County Council Fire Service Management wish to reassure the public that public safety remains of paramount importance to the Fire Service and that the necessary resources required to respond to emergencies are and will continue to be made available to Fire Service personnel.”
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