It’s emerged that County Leitrim has lost ten out of its 48 firefighters over the last 2 -3 years.
Out of the ten vacancies, just three of the positions have been filled to date, and it’s understood that this took three rounds of recruitment.
Sligo and Donegal are said to be experiencing similar challenges with a retention and recruitment crisis being felt right across the country.
Sinn Féin brought forward a motion to the Dail last night, calling for the establishment of a cross-party Joint Oireachtas Committee to conduct a full and independent review of how the national retained fire service is delivered.
Speaking to Ocean FM news this morning, Donegal Sinn Fein TD Padraig MacLochlainn believes that the Retained Fire Service is no longer fit for purpose:
