Paul Lawless
Ceist:216. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in the State currently receiving a pension for having worked as retained firefighters. [26565/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 19 May 2026
Ceisteanna (216, 227)
Paul Lawless
Ceist:227. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of retained fire fighters employed in the State. [26564/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 227 together.
Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which they are responsible.
The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981 & 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding support for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
Retained firefighters in place in 2008 and those hired thereafter until the end of 2012 were given the option of joining the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS) and receiving a pension and retirement lump sum based on their pensionable remuneration and length of service. All retained firefighters appointed after 1 January 2013 must join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.
Those who opted not to join the LGSS, on retirement from the fire service receive a one-off non-contributory retirement gratuity. This is calculated at one eighth of their annual retainer payment, multiplied by the number of years’ service, to a maximum of four times the annual retainer.
As local authorities are responsible for the provision of fire services, my Department does not hold the information sought, which would be available from individual local authorities.