Retained Firefighter

Westmeath County Council provides a 24 hour, 365 day emergency response to the people of Westmeath and certain areas of adjoining counties via four fire brigades and a complement of 54 personnel. A Retained Firefighter working within this organisation is an essential part of a disciplined and well structured team which provides an emergency response to the community in which they work and reside in (must reside and work within a reasonable distance of the relevant fire station).

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated person, with a strong sense of community commitment and shall demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of:

• Local Government services and structure

• The structure of the Retained Fire Service

• The operational abilities of Westmeath Fire & Rescue Service

• The demands placed on members of the Retained Fire Service

• Teamwork & group dynamics

• Dealing with high risk, stressful and dynamic environments

• Knowledge of health and safety within the workplace

Also the ideal candidate shall also have a proven ability in:

• Dealing effectively with conflicting demands

• Acting on their own initiative

• Problem solving & decision making

• Effective communication with work colleagues

• Effective communication with the public

• Service to the community, voluntary organisations or other

• Active engagement with Health, Safety and Welfare within the workplace

• Working under pressure within a structured environment

• Adaptability to evolving situations

Qualifying Criteria:

• Only applications from competent persons who reside and work within a reasonable distance 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. General guideline: On receipt of a fire or other emergency call candidates should be in attendance at the relevant Fire Station within a reasonable time which is considered for each candidate by the Chief Fire Officer prior to the candidate suitability process and which is dependent on the location of the candidates residence/work relative to the particular station that the candidate has applied for the position. The terms reasonable distance and reasonable time is to be decided by the Council.

• Applicants shall possess adequate literacy and numeric skills to allow them to carry out their duties in a competent and safe manner. Applicants will have to undertake literacy and numeric skills test as part of the selection process.

• Applicants shall undertake physical tests, including tests for vertigo, claustrophobia, dexterity, endurance as part of the selection process.

• Applicants who are successful will be required to undertake and successfully pass a medical examination and a Recruits Training Course (3 weeks duration) without delay in advance of any appointment being made.

• It is a requirement of a fire-fighter’s appointment that he/she qualify as a Breathing Apparatus Wearer within their probationary period. If he/she does not qualify, or if for any reason, is removed from the list of qualified Breathing Apparatus Wearers, they will be discharged from the service.

• Applicants who are successful shall be prepared to undertake any Fire Service training courses deemed necessary to refresh and/or enhance their capability to carry out their role in a competent and safe manner.

QUALIFICATIONS

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

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 to be nominated by Westmeath County Council. Note the requirement to complete and pass the Chester Step Test detailed below.

Given the strenuous nature of fire-fighting duties the medical examination will be of a very thorough nature. Please note that the following disabilities will render an applicant unsuitable for fire-fighting duties and will lead to disqualification at the examination.

history of epilepsy

alcohol or drug dependency

obesity

chronic bronchitis or asthma or other disabling disease of the lungs

organic disease of the cardio vascular system

diabetes mellitus

unaided vision less than 6/12 in either eye

inability to hear a forced whisper or conversational voice separately in either ear at 20 feet

evidence of labyrinthine disturbance

a history of vertigo or an illness which would affect sense of balance

history of mental instability

They will also be required to comply fully with the requirements of the “Occupational Health Scheme for Members of the Retained Fire Service” as published by the Local Government Management Services Board in July 2005.

Retained Fire-fighters will be required to undergo regular and ad-hoc medical examinations at any time and an operational Firefighter must maintain a good level of physical fitness through regular strenuous exercise. Please note that it is recommended that Retained Fire-fighters be vaccinated against the Hepatitis B Virus and in this regard 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 advice is that fitness needed for this test does not come overnight; realistically it takes at least a few weeks and often longer to appreciably improve a candidate’s fitness level.

Residence

Only applications from competent persons who reside and work within a reasonable distance 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. General guideline: On receipt of a fire or other emergency call candidates should be in attendance at the relevant Fire Station within a reasonable time which is considered for each candidate by the Chief Fire Officer prior to the candidate suitability process and which is dependent on the location of the candidate’s residence/work relative to the particular station that the candidate has applied for the position. The terms reasonable distance and reasonable time is to be decided by the Council.

Availability

Candidates must have flexibility within their current occupation and have permission from their employer to be available for attendance at incidents and training courses. Prior to appointment to any Firefighter position, candidates will be required to submit a letter from their employer (if relevant) outlining their permission to attend emergency callouts. Persons appointed will be required to show documentary evidence of both their work address and the address of their permanent residence prior to being appointed (a letter from your current employer confirming current employment address and recent utility bills, bank statements or tenancy agreement).

Driving Licence

A candidate must, at the date of application, be the holder of a full unendorsed Class ‘B’ driving licence. On appointment and after an interval decided by the Chief Fire Officer, firefighters may be required to obtain a Heavy Goods Vehicle Class C Driving licence and undertake further driving training and instruction to enable them to drive fire appliances and other fire service fleet. If a Firefighter has their licence suspended or removed for any reason, they must immediately inform Westmeath County Council. 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.

PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYMENT

The Panel

The employment is part-time. A panel will be formed from which part time, permanent and/or fixed term contract posts may be filled.

Remuneration

Remuneration will consist of an inclusive annual allowance together with hourly rates of attendance at fires, drills, training, etc., as listed hereunder. All payments will be subject to deduction of statutory contributions to PAYE, PRSI, etc.

(a) The rates of pay from the 1st August 2025 as per Circular EL 07/2025 are as follows:

Firefighter Service Allowance

Year 1 €16,190

Years 2 – 4 €17,192

Years 5 – 7 €18,428

Years 8+ €19,555

Annual Leave

The terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 shall apply.

A Firefighter’s annual leave entitlement will be calculated in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and S.I. 473 of 2001 Regulations. A Firefighter is entitled to a maximum of 4 working weeks i.e. 28 days. Payment for annual leave will be 8% of earnings inclusive of community fire safety, station duties, drill hours, training hours and average of calls in previous 52 weeks.

A Firefighter will be required to comply with the terms of the Crew Management Arrangements for Retained Firefighters as operated by Westmeath County Council. In cases of Annual Leave, advance notice must be given to the Station Officer or in their absence, to the Sub-Officer in advance of the first day of Annual Leave. Approval of annual leave will be subject to minimum crewing levels being maintained at station level.

Each Firefighter must use their leave sheet or other means to record such annual leave absences. The provision of annual leave will be on the basis of 50% of annual leave on periods which the firefighter is rostered on and 50% of periods which the Firefighter is not rostered (i.e. flexible working week) for attendance at calls.

Sick Leave

Any absence on sick leave must be reported to the Station Officer, Sub Station Officer or nominated person by the Senior Fire Officer on the first morning of illness. Where a Firefighter is absent due to sickness, a certificate from a qualified Medical Practitioner must be submitted on the third day of a continuous absence and on a weekly basis thereafter.

Return to Work Form must be completed by any staff member absent on uncertified and certified sick leave. The form must be countersigned by the Station Officer and forwarded to a Senior Fire Officer prior to submission to Human Resources. The medical certificate should state the general nature of the illness. This information will be treated in confidence. The local authority reserves the right to refer you for an independent medical examination. A certificate of fitness will be required before resuming work.

Where a Retained Firefighter becomes incapacitated for an extended period as a result of serious illness or injury, payment of the quarterly retainer will be subject to (a) the Station Officer having received notification as soon as possible concerning the circumstances of the absence and (b) a medical certificate being submitted within three days of the absence. Payment of the quarterly retainer may be extended to six months depending on the merits of each case and the applicant’s attendance records. Extended sick leave would normally only be granted to a Firefighter on one occasion only. A medical certificate of fitness must be submitted prior to resuming duties.

Attendance at Drills & Incidents

There is an obligation on Firefighters to attend at alert/fire calls and at drills. This is the basis on which a retainer is paid. The onus on arranging to receive an alert/fire call shall rest with the Firefighter.

• Drills

Notwithstanding any other disciplinary action that the County Council may apply, failure to attend or participate in 85% of all drills in any quarter of a year, without good reason, will be addressed through the Local Authority’s disciplinary procedure.

• Incidents

In the case of an alert/fire call the Firefighter shall attend all calls within their Rostered-On duty Period (24 Weeks per annum). Firefighters who attend calls will be remunerated as per the Crew Management Arrangements for Retained Firefighters as operated by Westmeath County Council.

Where the Chief Fire Officer considers that a Firefighter is not fulfilling the above attendance standards which he/she considers reasonable in all the circumstances, the Chief Fire Officer will consider the matter of attendance under the Council’s disciplinary policy. Subsequent continuing failure to meet the above attendance standards, without good reason, shall be dealt with through the disciplinary procedure, and may result in termination of service at the absolute discretion of the County Council.

Availability

Written evidence must be provided from the employer as to the fire-fighter's availability to turn up to all call-outs of the Fire Brigade and to attend any courses arranged by the Fire Service 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 fire-fighter's 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.

Residence & Work Base

The residence and normal place of work of each Retained Firefighter shall be within a distance from the fire station acceptable to the Council. Satisfactory written evidence from employer must be submitted to the Council agreeing to the availability of the Retained Fire Fighter for training, fire and other calls, drills and such other duties as a Retained Firefighter may be required to perform.

• If in the future, a successful candidate should change residence or employment and as a consequence is outside the 1.5 mile radius or reasonable distance of the fire station, it will be necessary for the Council to terminate their employment. The firefighter is further obliged to notify the Chief Fire Officer and HR Officer in Human Resources immediately of:

(a) new address if they should change residence

(b) any change of conditions in their current employment which would require them to leave the town

(c) the name and address of their employer should they change or obtain employment.

Satisfactory written evidence from any new employer must be submitted agreeing to release for training, fire and other calls, drills and such other duties as a Retained Firefighter may be required to perform.