Retained Firefighter

Each candidate must be of good character and the successful applicant may be subject to Garda Vetting prior to any appointment being confirmed.

Each candidate must be at least 18 years of age on 1st September 2026.

Retirement age for Retained Firefighters is 55 years of age (up to 62 years of age subject to conditions).

Each candidate must be free from any defects which would render that person unsuitable to perform the duties of the post and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

For the purpose of satisfying this requirement, it will be necessary to undergo, at the candidate’s own expense, an initial medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner nominated by Cork County Council.

Note the requirement to complete and pass the Chester Step Test detailed below.

On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to the candidate.

Retained Firefighters will be required to undergo regular and ad-hoc medical examinations at any time.

Given the strenuous nature of firefighting duties, the medical examination will be of a very thorough nature.

Please note that the following disabilities will render an applicant unsuitable for firefighting duties and will lead to disqualification at the examination:

Please note that it is recommended that Retained Firefighters be vaccinated against the Hepatitis B Virus and, in this connection, the vaccine will be made available free of charge to successful candidates.

Fitness Test

Part of the pre-employment medical examination includes completing the fitness test.

Candidates successful at interview must successfully complete the fitness test prior to employment being offered.

The fitness test at the recruit medical is the Chester Step Test.

The Chester Step Test measures aerobic capacity and fitness and entails a moderately vigorous level of physical activity.

The level of fitness needed to pass this test requires regular exercise and the test pass level is difficult to achieve if the candidate does not already have a good level of physical fitness prior to the test.

Medical examiners advise that the fitness needed for this test does not come overnight; realistically it takes at least a few weeks, and often longer, to appreciably improve your fitness level.

Candidates who fail the initial Chester Step Test will be offered one further fitness test only.

This may be a Chester Step Test or a Shuttle Run test, as determined by Cork County Council.

No further retests will be offered.

Only applications from competent persons who reside and work within 2 miles of the fire station of the relevant unit, and whose ordinary activity does not take them away from the town in which a brigade is located, will be considered.

On receipt of a fire or other emergency call, you should be in attendance at the station within five minutes.

Unemployed persons are not precluded from applying, provided that they satisfy the residence and availability requirements.

Each applicant must hold a full current Category “B” European Community Model Driving Licence free from endorsement.

Candidates successful at interview will be required to undergo Garda Vetting, which will be directly arranged by Cork County Council.

PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYMENT

Panels may be used to fill permanent and temporary vacancies.

The Single Scheme does not provide for a Retained Firefighters Gratuity.

New entrants will pay superannuation contributions each quarter, with SPSPS pension lump sum and pension payable on retirement, subject to certain conditions.

(Currently 55 years of age and up to 62 subject to conditions.)

(a) Firefighting Skills Course

This course is a full-time, three-week course, which will be held in Ireland and will involve staying away from home on a Monday to Friday basis for the three weeks.

(b) Breathing Apparatus Course

This course is full-time, of two weeks duration, and is held outside the county.

(c) Compartment Fire Behaviour Training Course

This course is of one week duration, normally held outside of the county.

(d) Occupational First Aid Course

This course is full-time, normally three days duration, and is held within the county.

(e) Class C HGV Driving Licence

N.B. The above does not preclude the Council from offering temporary employment, but failure to complete any of the above courses satisfactorily will result in termination of employment.

After the employment has been confirmed, it will be terminable at any stage on the giving of the required notice by either side under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973, or without notice in circumstances justifying immediate dismissal.

Based on an annual 52 weeks, excluding 4 weeks annual leave, Retained Firefighters will be required to be available and attend alerts 24 weeks in the year on a week on/week off basis.

Across the 24 weeks where a Retained Firefighter is rostered off, they can, if they so wish, attend incidents.

In the event of occasional unavoidable absence of one rostered member for part of his/her week, it is the responsibility of the rostered member to arrange cover for the period of his/her absence with an available off-duty member.

This agreement has to be notified to and agreed by the Station Officer or Sub-Station Officer in advance.

This is to guarantee that the Station Officer is in a position to ensure that the minimum manning levels for each station are met before any cover arrangement can be approved.

Retained Firefighters must normally reside and work in the town where the brigade is located and in such proximity to the Fire Station that will allow him/her to respond within the turnout time set by the Chief Fire Officer.

The current requirement is a target timeframe of five minutes for the first appliance to leave the station.

It is necessary that he/she be released from his/her normal employment on occasions when attendance at incidents demands such release.

Changes of residence or workplace must be notified in writing to the Chief Fire Officer.

Failure to do so may result in termination of employment as a Firefighter.

Any change of residence or place of work that puts the Firefighter at a distance or turnout time greater than that permitted by the Chief Fire Officer from the Fire Station, or to a location unacceptable to the Chief Fire Officer, will result in termination of employment as a Firefighter.

The Council may, at its discretion, prior to employing any qualified candidate, seek appropriate evidence as to the availability of such person to fulfil the duties of this position.

Annual Leave

Four weeks annual leave per annum in addition to the annual payment of the retainer.

Furthermore, payment for annual leave is confirmed as being 8% of earnings.

These earnings will be calculated on the basis of the previous year’s earnings excluding the retainer, clothing allowance, and payment for annual leave and public holiday leave in the previous year.

The payment for annual leave will be made when employees take annual leave as part of the fortnightly pay cycle.

Members of brigades shall be subject to such rules and regulations as may be issued from time to time.

It should be particularly noted that Retained Firefighters must, in the matter of drills, attendance at fires, or in other emergencies, comply strictly with the orders and discretion of the Station Officer or, in his absence, such other brigade member as may be in charge.

Any Retained Firefighter guilty of infringement of this regulation will be dismissed.

Generally, members of all brigades will be under the general control and supervision of the Chief Fire Officer, Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Senior Executive Fire Officer, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Assistant Fire Officer, or other appropriate officer as the case may be.

While on duty, Retained Firefighters shall use the clothing and personal equipment provided by the Council, and same shall be left in the station immediately after the cessation of duty.

Retained Firefighters may not use such clothing and equipment save while on duty.

Retained Firefighters must comply fully with safety policy and directives in force from time to time.

Rostering of Retained Firefighters will take place at the Council’s discretion.