Council outlines process to develop statutory plan for Wicklow fire service
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow County Council has confirmed work is underway to develop a Section 26 plan for Wicklow Fire Service.
The Fire Services Act was introduced in the aftermath of the Stardust tragedy, where 48 young people tragically lost their lives in Artane, Dublin in 1981.
Section 26 obliges every fire authority to prepare a fire and emergency operations plan which outlines staffing levels, the number and location of appliances, operational arrangements, and the overall approach to fire safety within the confines of a county.
It is designed to give transparency to the public, to provide protection and clarity to frontline firefighters, while allowing elected county councillors and the wider community to feed into the decisions that affect their safety.
The final plan is a reserved function, which means it is decided by the elected councillors of the local authority. This means decisions about public safety are subject to democratic oversight rather than being imposed behind closed doors.
Sinn Féin’s Cllr Dermot ‘Daisy’ O’Brien stated how important the Section 26 process is in terms of local councillors, having raised the issue at the council’s September monthly meeting.
“It’s worth noting that this is a ‘reserved function’ which means there is a duty upon councillors to ultimately adopt this plan at plenary council. However, the bigger duty in my opinion is how elected reps ensure that the plan is an inclusive and collaborative process.”
Meanwhile Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady, has cautiously welcomed confirmation that the process to develop a Section 26 plan for the Wicklow Fire Service is commencing.
He’s described the move as “a long-overdue but vital step towards building a safer and better-resourced fire service for our county.”
“This is something that should have been done years ago, and the failure to have one in place until now represents a serious breakdown in leadership and governance within the service.”
In September, Deputy Brady exposed the fact that Wicklow Fire Service did not have a Section 26 Plan in place, following extensive efforts to obtain clarity and information from the Department, Minister James Browne, and Wicklow County Council.
After months of questions and attempts to get information, Deputy Brady obtained clarification in September that Wicklow Fire Service had no Section 26 plan in place.
“The fact that this cornerstone of fire safety, a statutory requirement under national law, was missing is deeply, deeply concerning. It represents a dereliction of duty that has left communities less safe and exposed frontline firefighters to completely unacceptable risks.”
As part of the Section 26 process, Wicklow County Council will examine options for increasing fire cover in Bray, including detailed costings to reinstate it as a two-pump station and to establish a full-time fire service in the town.
It is expected the plan will be brought forward before the end of the second quarter of next year.
Once the costings are in place, it will be then up to the Government to provide the necessary funding to put in place a full-time fire service in Bray.
Deputy Brady believes the public should be placed at the heart of the process.
“There must be meaningful public consultation to ensure that the final plan reflects the real needs of communities across Wicklow.” he added.