Retained Firefighter

• FAILURE TO UPLOAD ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS I.E. QUALIFICATIONS, I.D. ETC., AT SUBMISSION STAGE WILL AUTOMATICALLY RESULT IN AN INVALID APPLICATION.

• APPLICANTS SHOULD SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT THEIR EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION.

• APPLICANTS WITH NON-IRISH QUALIFICATIONS CAN AVAIL OF THE ON-LINE RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN QUALIFICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDED BY QUALITY AND QUALIFICATIONS IRELAND (QQI) AND MUST SUBMIT PROOF OF SAME WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS.

• FAILURE TO FULLY COMPLETE EACH QUESTION ON THE APPLICATION FORM MAY DEEM YOUR APPLICATION INVALID (ANSWERS WHICH REDIRECT TO OTHER RESPONSES ARE NOT PERMITTED).

Character

A Firefighter must be of good character and shall not at any time bring the County Council into disrepute. Employment will be subject to the provision of satisfactory references and Garda Vetting.

Age A Firefighter must be not less than 18 years on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving application forms occurs. A birth certificate must be submitted to the County Council as proof of age before a person is engaged as a recruit.

Education Firefighters must have attained a satisfactory level of education to enable them to perform satisfactorily as a Firefighter and to successfully undergo the appropriate training.

Health

A Firefighter shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. Each applicant must be free from any defect or disease which would render him/her unsuitable to hold the office. An operational Firefighter is required to maintain an appropriate level of physical fitness.

Driver’s Licence

A recruit Firefighter shall possess a valid full current Category B Driving Licence at the time of applying for the post and ideally a Category C Driving Licence for HGV with up to eight passengers. All newly appointed Retained Firefighters will be required to attain a Category C Driving Licence. Firefighters will co-operate with further Driver Training and will be required to drive fire service vehicles, if operationally needed. Failure to attain a Category C licence, within the probationary year, may result in termination of employment. If a Firefighter has their licence suspended or removed for any reason, they must immediately inform the County Council, and it shall be dealt with through the Council’s disciplinary procedure and may result in termination of service at the absolute discretion of the County Council.

Garda Vetting

The successful candidate will be subject to the Garda Vetting Procedures in line with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children & Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to 2016 as appropriate (or any subsequent amendments to the legislation mentioned) in advance of appointment and on a periodic basis thereafter for the duration of their employment.

Residence

Persons appointed must live and work within a maximum of 8 minutes travel time (based on GPS navigation planner e.g. Google Maps or similar as determined by Kilkenny County Council) to allow them to respond for the duration of their employment as a Firefighter. The Council retains the right to request further evidence, if required on the information supplied, for the purpose of verification of place of residence and location of employment. A Firefighter shall notify the County Council in writing of any subsequent changes of residence or place of employment. A change of residence or place of employment that would place the Firefighter outside these limits will mean automatic termination of employment. The Council will check this prior to appointment and at periodic intervals after appointment.

Other Employment

Written evidence must be provided from the employer as to availability prior to appointment, and the County Council in its sole discretion, shall decide as to whether the availability as so provided is acceptable. If the Firefighter's primary employer subsequently changes their conditions of employment and does not allow the Firefighter to attend fire calls / drills during working hours, employment will be terminated. Self-employed must also provide written evidence as to availability prior to appointment. Such written evidence must cover a candidate's availability for initial training and for fire and other calls, drills, training and such other duties which the Firefighter may be required by the County Council to perform.

Duties of the Role Shall Include:

• A Firefighter shall be required to attend at fires and other emergencies, drills, displays and other duties at such times and for such periods as required by the County Council. Failure to respond promptly to fire or other emergency calls will be addressed through the Local Authority’s disciplinary procedure. Firefighters shall be available and capable at all times when required for attendance at fires or other incident types.

• Each Firefighter who attends for Fire Brigade service must be prepared to accept the work entailed and to fulfil to the best of their ability their duty as a Firefighter in the saving of life, saving of property and the fighting of fires or other such emergencies.

• Every Firefighter must comply with Kilkenny County Council’s Crew Management Arrangements for Retained Firefighters. Firefighters who are on standby during fires or other incidents shall remain at the Station and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Station Officer from time to time during the callout.

• When required a Firefighter will substitute for any other Firefighter absent through sickness, annual leave or any other reason.

• Firefighters shall ensure that the Fire Station is kept clean & tidy at all times. Firefighting equipment shall be kept clean, inspected, tested and maintained properly and stowed away in a safe manner.

• Firefighters are required to adhere to and co-operate with all National and Local Agreements pertaining to the Fire Services.

• Firefighters will be required to attend Training Courses as directed.

• Firefighters must undertake driving duties as required.

• Comply with all organisational policies, procedures and legislation.

• Firefighters shall be responsible for items of personal equipment issued to him/her in connection with his/her employment.

• Each Firefighter shall carry a Fire Brigade pocket alerter at all times and it shall be his/her responsibility to ensure that it is kept in proper working order.

• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Type of Post To form a panel from which relevant vacancies may be filled.

Conditions of Employment

Employment The employment is part-time and pensionable. The initial employment will be for a probationary period of one year (and may be extended if required).

Retirement A firefighter shall retire:

• upon attaining age of 55 years, or

• where the firefighter wishes to serve beyond that age and the fire authority who employs him or her is satisfied that he or she is medically fit to continue to serve as a firefighter upon attaining that age but not beyond attaining the age of 62 years.

A retained firefighter shall retire upon attaining the age of 55 years. Where they wish to serve beyond that age, and the employing fire authority is satisfied that the retained firefighter is declared medically fit to do so, having undergone the appropriate annual medical assessment, the retained firefighter may continue to serve but not beyond attaining the age of 62 years.

Retained firefighters are required to make an application for an extension to their contract of employment six months in advance of their next birthday each year an extension is sought. Any significant change in a firefighter’s medical condition during the extended period must be notified to the employer.

Health

A Firefighter shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Medical Examination

Before recruitment, in order to ascertain the health of a candidate, successful applicants shall undergo such medical examinations (which may include x-ray and/or other special tests) as the County Council considers necessary. The County Council will nominate the medical examiners. The candidate must comply, at their own expense, with such remedial requirements as the County Council considers necessary.

An operational Firefighter shall:

• Agree to participate in the Occupational Health Scheme for Retained Firefighters in operation by Kilkenny County Council

• Undergo medical examinations by medical examiners as nominated by the County Council, when requested

• Attend medical examinations in accordance with the frequency set down in the Occupational Health Scheme for Retained Firefighters as issued by the LGMA

Any defects discovered pertaining to a medical examination will not be remedied at the County Council's expense. Retention as an operational Firefighter will depend upon receipt of satisfactory reports by medical examiners. On reaching 55 years of age or sooner, if found to be medically unfit, a Firefighter shall cease to be a Firefighter. An operational Firefighter is required to maintain an appropriate level of physical fitness.

Probation

Before appointment as a Firefighter, a recruit shall attend and successfully complete the three-week Firefighter Skills Training Course.

Recruit Firefighters will be required to undergo and successfully complete the following recruit training programmes during their probationary period:

• A three-week Recruit Firefighting Skills Course (including manual handling)

• A two-week Breathing Apparatus Initial Wearers' Course

• Attain an HGV “C” Driving Licence

• A one-week Breathing Apparatus Compartment Fire Behaviour Course

• Any other course that the County Council may consider necessary

Training Fees will be paid at the current hourly rate for Firefighters during training (€25.27 as of now). Failure to successfully complete all of the above courses will result in termination of employment.

From the date of commencement as a recruit Firefighter, there shall be a period of 12 months during which the recruit Firefighter shall be on probation. This period may be extended at the absolute discretion of the County Council. The recruit shall not become a permanent Firefighter unless the County Council is satisfied that the Firefighter has been satisfactory in all respects.

Remuneration: A Firefighter shall be paid at the appropriate approved national rates of Fire and Drill Fees and Retainer Fees and in accordance with any national agreements for retained Firefighters. Payment of fees is currently made fortnightly. Retained Fire Service – Fire Fighter - Rates Applicable at 1st March 2025

RETAINER ALLOWANCE Service Duration Allowance 0-2 year 1 Year €14,523.00 2-4 Years 3 Years €15,515.00 5-7 Years 3 Years €16,739.00 8+ Years €17,854.00