STRIKE: Three out of six County Kildare fire stations to close on rotating basis

Three different fire stations in Kildare will be closed on a rotating basis, as a result of strike action planned by Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) retained firefighters.

Earlier today, SIPTU retained firefighter members began a co-ordained strike action, which has resulted in nearly 50 per cent of fire stations in the service closing.

According to SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser Karan O Loughlin, the dispute concerns a staff crisis which threatens this community resource. 

A Kildare-based spokesperson also told the Leinster Leader: "Three out of our six stations in Kildare are closed during these strikes on a rotating basis.

"We have structured it to avoid causing any public danger with a station covering each section of Kildare North, Middle and South."

The spokesperson added: "This is a last resort for our firefighters, but it is a measure that has to be taken; we need to future-proof our service to guarantee there will be one there.

"60 per cent of firefighters are planning to leave in the near future, and if this happens, we could see stations close all around Ireland."

The spokesperson also said that the stations at Athy, Newbridge and Maynooth are closed today, while the stations at Monasterevin, Naas and Lexlip will close tomorrow: "It will roll like that everyday till next Tuesday, when (the strike) will be escalated on June 20."

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SUPPORT

Participants of the strike have found support in North Kildare TD Réada Cronin.

The Sinn Féin politician said in a statement: "The government must act urgently to save the crucial services provided by retained firefighters. Without action on incomes and conditions, the future of these services is in doubt, putting lives at risk.   

"I know from retained firefighters locally that they are gutted by the shocking lack of action from the government.

"These are the people we hope never to need, but when we do need them, we must have the reassurance of knowing they will be there."

She continued: "In short, we need these services to keep the people of North Kildare safe. Retained firefighters deserve better pay and a better work-life balance.

"We all know that the demands being placed on them, and by extension their families, are unfair and unsustainable.

"I’m asking the government to engage, urgently, with representative bodies acting on behalf of the retained firefighters so an escalation of industrial action can be prevented."

Ms Cronin concluded her statement by saying: "Sinn Féin, in government, would act immediately to pay our retained firefighters better, recruit more of them to the force so it can provide the service it wants to and that’s needed."

Réada Cronin TD supported the measures taken by the retained firefighters.