Retained firefighters at half the country’s fire stations are on strike today after no agreement was reached in a row over pay and conditions.
Emergency cover was halted at 100 stations at midnight and crews will picket outside stations across the day.
They are calling for an increase in the base rate of pay and say failure to address issues such as recruitment, pensions and annual could result in the closure of fire stations across the country.
The Echo report that Cork County Council Chief executive Tim Lucey told yesterday's Council meeting that they have a code of practice to cover contingency planning in emergency situations, and that they will be doing everything they can to ensure that there is no risk to public safety.
The issue is to be raised directly with the Taoiseach in the Dail today by TD Mick Barry.
Speaking to RedFM News station officer at Mallow Fire Station Jonathan Madden says many stations are open due to the goodwill of crews:
"It's a nightmare that this is still going on, and nobody has interjected.
"The facts and the figures are there - people are leaving the job in their droves and it's not attracting any new people.
"It's only the goodwill of the crew that I have left here that is keeping it going, but I can't expect that goodwill to last forever.
"It's not going to sort itself unless this is done, it's only going to get worse and that's the fear."
