WRC rejects Kilkenny firefighter’s claim for driving allowance

The Workplace Relations Commission rejected retained firefighter Philip Byrne’s claim for a driving allowance from Kilkenny County Council for December 2021 to May 2022. The decision was dated 25 April 2023. Byrne argued that he was eligible to resume driving after a two-year suspension and did not need to complete a specialised driving course. The council said its Chief Fire Officer could require the course before allowing him back to driving duties, citing safety responsibilities and his training attendance. The adjudication officer found the Chief Fire Officer was entitled to require the course. The driving allowance applied only while Byrne was officially categorised as a driver, which happened in May 2022. The officer found that withholding it while Byrne was not a driver was not a deduction under the Payment of Wages Act, and the complaint was unsuccessful.