Fire Fighter

CHARACTER

Candidates must be of good character and shall not at any time bring the County Council into disrepute. Galway County Council may make whatever enquiries it considers necessary to satisfy this condition. Employment will be subject to the provision of satisfactory references and Garda Vetting.

Firefighters within the Fire and Rescue Service have a high standing in the community and members are required to maintain a high standard of dress and appearance as well as conducting themselves in a responsible manner at all times.

AGE

Candidates shall be over the age of 18 years at the date of application. Any candidate who reaches the age of 55 years prior to appointment will cease to be eligible for appointment on the result of the competition.

The retirement age for firefighters is 62 years of age.

HEALTH

Candidates must:

a) Be in a state of health as determined by Galway County Council's medical adviser, such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

b) Comply with the following physical standards:

i. Physical Capacity – Have attained the level of fitness required to undertake all Fire Service duties.

ii. Strength – Be assessed by undertaking tests of hand grip and leg/back pull strength on a load cell dynamometer.

• Dominant hand: 35 kg or above
• Subordinate hand: 33 kg or above
• Leg/back pull strength: 117 kg or above

iii. Vision (unaided) – 6/6 in each eye.

iv. Colour Perception – Applicants shall be tested with the Ishihara plates. Two errors of identification are permitted in the set of plates. No substitute test of colour vision will be accepted.

v. Hearing – Health & Safety Authority Hearing Category 1.

The following specific medical conditions will disqualify a candidate:

a) Failure to comply with any of the requirements listed above.

b) History of epilepsy.

c) Alcohol or drug dependency.

d) Chronic bronchitis, asthma or other disabling disease of the lungs.

e) Organic disease of the cardiovascular system, including blood pressure.

f) All types of diabetes mellitus, whether insulin-dependent or non-insulin-dependent.

g) History of vertigo or any illness affecting the sense of balance.

h) History of mental instability.

i) History of low back symptoms.

j) History of significant knee joint injury or disease.

k) History of night-blindness.

l) Chronic skin disease, specifically allergic contact dermatitis, irritant dermatitis and severe psoriasis.

As part of the recruitment process, applicants must undertake a physical fitness test and work-related suitability test designed to satisfy the Fire Service that they are fit and strong enough to undertake the vigorous recruit training courses and also to determine whether they are physically capable of performing the everyday tasks working with ladders, hoses and other equipment which are essential for all Firefighters.

EDUCATIONAL STANDARD

Each candidate must have obtained at least Grade D (or a pass) in five subjects, including Mathematics and English, from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or in an examination of at least equivalent standard.

If you progress in the competition, you will be required to submit your original qualifications which will be copied and returned to you immediately.

Please ensure that if you received your educational qualifications outside of Ireland that you have the level of your qualifications confirmed by the Irish National Framework of Qualifications at www.qqi.ie and submit such confirmation with your original qualifications when requested to do so.

In selection of candidates, additional marks may be awarded to those who have any of the following:

• A higher educational qualification than that prescribed above, e.g. Leaving Certificate.
• Experience of driving heavy vehicles.
• Technical or trades training.

DRIVING REQUIREMENT

A candidate must, at the date of application, be the holder of a full unendorsed Class B Driving Licence.

Newly appointed Firefighters will be required to obtain a Category C Driving Licence.

RESIDENCE

Holders of the post shall be required to live within a reasonable distance of Galway City Fire Station.

EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY

The post of Firefighter is open to everyone who can meet the qualifying criteria.

Galway County Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.

CITIZENSHIP

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a Stamp 4 visa.

Non-Irish qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. Overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• To respond to and deal with emergency calls immediately and safely.
• To write clear and concise reports.
• To work effectively and efficiently as a member of a team.
• To undertake all training as required.
• To acquire and maintain knowledge to enhance professional skills in all areas relevant to the position including:
• To maintain, clean, repair and test firefighting and emergency equipment as required.
• To uphold the Fire and Rescue Service's high standards and reputation with particular regard to appearance, dress, conduct, behaviour and demeanour.
• To maintain a level of health and fitness commensurate with your duties as a Firefighter.
• To adhere to all aspects of the Discipline Code.
• To understand, comply with and implement all relevant policies and procedures of Galway Fire Service and Galway County Council, including:
• To undertake routine administrative duties, including the use of information technology, as required.
• To carry out any other duties as reasonably required by the Chief Fire Officer.

PAY

Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the pay scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular.

New entrants to the Local Authority Sector will be appointed to the minimum of the scale.

The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

€736.59 - €1,216.47 per week

ANNUAL LEAVE

Galway County Council's holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December.

Your holiday entitlement will be 20 working days per annum.

The granting of annual leave will be subject to a rostering system as devised by the Chief Fire Officer.

Annual Leave is to be taken in blocks where a block consists of a full working shift (two days immediately followed by two nights).

Between the period 1st January to 31st August, two blocks plus two days must be taken by all full-time personnel.

Please note that in taking your annual leave you must include an unbroken period of at least two weeks consecutively in the course of the year to ensure compliance with the Working Time Act 1997.

Three days Winter Leave are to be taken between 1st October and 31st March each year.

The remaining days can be taken at any time.

No more than two personnel can be off on annual leave at any one time.

Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangements for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 as amended.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT CHECKS

Placement on a panel from this competition is not a guarantee that a position will be offered.

Before contracts of employment are entered into, various checks are undertaken. These include:

• Medical examinations
• References
• Garda Vetting

Applicants must be able to satisfy the Council's Medical Doctor that they are in general good health and have the potential to maintain minimum fitness standards for the duration of their careers.

Applicants will also be required to undergo:

(a) Eyesight test

(b) Colour perception test

(c) Chest X-ray

(d) Hearing test

References for successful candidates will be checked, and Garda Vetting will also be completed at this point.

All the above must be satisfactorily completed and candidates must be available to commence Recruit Training (which may be outside of the State) on the date determined by the Council.

This course will last a minimum of thirteen weeks and may take place outside the State.

The Recruit must be able to make continual and satisfactory progress to pass the written, oral and practical tests set at intervals throughout this period.

The training is varied and demanding and covers such subjects as:

• Basic equipment handling
• Breathing apparatus
• First aid
• Hydraulics
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Building construction
• Administration
• Basic fire safety

Candidates who do not satisfactorly complete the basic recruits' course will have their employment terminated.

Successful candidates will be posted to an operational Fire Station as part of the operational team and will attend fires and other emergencies.

Candidates will also be required to obtain a full Category C Driving Licence during their 12-month probation period.

Candidates not holding a full Category C Licence will be required to obtain same at their own expense during this period.

OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT

Employees recruited to the Fire Service shall not engage in any gainful occupation which would impair the performance of their duties as a Firefighter or in any occupation which might conflict with the interests of Galway County Council as a Fire Authority, or which might be inconsistent with the discharge of their duties as a Firefighter.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

It shall be the duty of every Firefighter while at work:

• To take reasonable care for his/her own safety, health and welfare and that of any other person who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions while at work.
• To co-operate with his/her employer and any other person to such extent as will enable his/her employer or the other person to comply with any of the relevant statutory provisions.
• To use, in such manner so as to provide the protection intended, any suitable appliance, protective clothing, convenience, equipment or other means provided for securing safety, health and welfare while at work.
• To report to his/her employer or immediate superior, without unreasonable delay, any defects in plant, equipment, place of work or system of work which might endanger safety, health and welfare.
• No person shall intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse any appliance, protective clothing, convenience, equipment or other means provided for securing the safety, health or welfare of persons arising out of work activities.

RETIREMENT

Holders of the post will be required to retire on reaching the age of 62 years.

UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT

The successful candidate shall be required to wear a uniform in accordance with the Galway Fire and Rescue Service Uniform Policy and maintain it in good condition at all times.

The uniform will be supplied by Galway Fire and Rescue Service.