Retained Firefighter

THE ROLE

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) once the appointment has been confirmed.

• 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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

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 candidates fitness level.

5. 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 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.

6. 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).

7. 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.

REGULATIONS FOR FIRE BRIGADE PERSONNEL

1. 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. The onus of arranging to receive call out alarm rests with members.

2. Firefighters may be rostered for duty in accordance with the station procedures. During a rostered period, they will attend all fire calls. The obligation is on the fire-fighters to ensure that they receive all fire calls during the rostered period. In the case of agreed exceptional circumstances, if a fire-fighter is unable to attend during a rostered period, a substitute must be provided, and the Station Officer’s approval received.

3. Where the Chief Fire Officer considers that a Firefighter is not fulfilling the above attendance standards which they consider 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.

4. Fire-fighters will be required to carry a Fire Service Alerter, switched on, at all times and to ensure this Alerter is fully operational.

5. Every member must remain at duty until;

▪ the full duration of the incident and the brigade has returned to the station, and the equipment has been carefully and properly stored away, and the party dismissed by the officer in charge, or;

▪ relieved by another member on the order of the officer in charge.

6. No member shall leave their post unless the prior approval of the officer in charge is obtained, and no member shall relieve another member without the prior approval of the officer in charge.

7. All members must ensure that they are not under the influence of an intoxicant or any other substance to an extent that they are in such a state as to endanger their own safety, health or welfare at work or that of any other person.

8. While on duty, members 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 Fire-fighters may not use such clothing and equipment save while on duty. Retained Fire-fighters must comply fully with safety policy and directives in force from time to time.

9. Firefighters are responsible for firefighting under the direction of the officers and for the carrying out of such other orders as may be given to them from time to time by an officer either in writing or verbally.

10. Any member of the fire brigade who:-

(a) Fails to carry out their duties in a smart and efficient manner,

(b) Fails to take proper care of their equipment,

(c) Fails to carry out an order from a superior officer given verbally or in writing,

(d) Causes any damage to premises or equipment through carelessness,

(e) Adopts a negative or obstructional attitude likely to interfere with the smooth and efficient working of the brigade,

(f) Attempts to introduce issues which have no bearing on fire brigade duties,

(g) Attempts directly or indirectly to intimidate any member into any particular action against their will,

shall be reported immediately to the Chief Fire Officer who will investigate the matter. Any member found guilty of any of the above may be reprimanded, suspended or dismissed.

11. In the event of a grievance, firefighters will use the grievance procedures of Westmeath County Council.

12. In the event of breach of discipline by firefighters, the Disciplinary Procedures of Westmeath County Council will apply.

13. Any member of the fire brigade who is unpunctual at drill shall not be paid drill fees and where a member is absent from two consecutive drills he shall be liable to be dismissed.

14. Each member of the fire brigade shall while engaged on fire brigade duties at fires, practice, traveling to or from fires, and while on the fire brigade premises, carry out their duties in a smart and efficient manner. Any slovenliness or otherwise unsatisfactory carrying out of their duties on the part of any member of the fire brigade shall be reported to the Chief Fire Officer for necessary disciplinary action.

15. Each member of the fire brigade who volunteers for fire brigade service must be prepared to accept the many risks entailed and fulfil to the best of their ability their duty in the saving of life, the fighting of fires and the saving of property.

16. Each member 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 their absence, such other Brigade Member as maybe in charge. Any member 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, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Assistant Fire Officer or other appropriate officer as the case may be.

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

18. Firefighters to carry out any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYMENT

1. 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.

2. 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 June 2026 as per Circular EL 04/2026 are as follows:

Firefighter Service Allowance

Year 1 €17,021

Years 2 – 4 €18,043

Years 5 – 7 €19,303

Years 8+ €20,454