Recruitment drive brings hope for Tipperary Fire Station
Chief Fire Officer John Shinnors provided a recent recruitment update
A recent recruitment campaign for Newport Fire Station has resulted in 18 applications, a significant improvement after previous efforts attracted no recruits, Tipperary County Council has heard.
Chief Fire Officer John Shinnors provided the update at the recent Tipperary County Council, held at the Nenagh Civic Offices on Monday, July 13. He said extensive work over the past three to four months had helped deliver a positive response to the latest recruitment drive.
Speaking to the Tipperary Star in May, Station Officer for Newport Fire Station PJ O'Brien and Sub-Station Officer James McInerney warned that if Newport Fire Station were to close, it would have a "devastating impact" on Newport and the surrounding area. They said the nearest available fire service could be required to respond from Cappamore, Killaloe or even Limerick City.
Mr Shinnors said interviews had since taken place, with nine applicants identified as suitable to progress to the next stage for the Newport fire fighter positions.
He added, that there have been recruitment difficulties facing a number of stations, with Newport proving the most challenging.
He thanked Councillor Bugler, Councillor Quirke O'Meara and in particular, local representative Councillor Bonfield for their support in the community during the recruitment campaign for the Newport Fire Station.
The successful applicants will now progress to the next stage of the recruitment process. Although he noted that firefighter training is demanding and some attrition is expected.
He said that if four or six of the nine candidates complete the programme, they would join the four firefighters currently based at Newport Fire Station, bringing staffing levels to around 10. He added that the council's minimum staffing target for the station is 12 firefighters.
Mr Shinnors also updated councillors on plans for a Blueway response vehicle following a query from Sinn Féin Carrick-on-Suir Councillor David Dunne.
He said the council had initially intended to fund the vehicle itself, but following recent discussions with the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, the directorate has agreed to consider providing funding. He said this would help ease the financial burden on the council if approved.