Updated 20.30
DUBLIN FIRE BRIGADE firefighters represented by SIPTU and IMPACT unions took part in a protest in Dubin city centre this evening.
It is estimated at least 200 people marched from Tara Street Fire Station at 5pm to City Hall.
In a statement issued by trade union SIPTU this evening, they said they welcomed the announcement that the Dublin City Council review of the ambulance service in Dublin city is to be deferred.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, SIPTU organiser, Brendan O’Brien said that the city manager had told the union that the Dublin City Council review is being deferred awaiting the outcome of the HSE review.
However, the HSE said this evening that it is unaware of such a postponement in the review, stating that it is a joint review between Dublin City Council and the HSE.
In a statement, the HSE said:
Despite comments to the contrary, the review of the provision of ambulance services by Dublin Fire Brigade in Dublin City and Dublin County has NOT been suspended.In consultation with Dublin City Council, the timescales have been revised in order to allow the results of the HSE National Ambulance Capacity Review to inform the recommendations of the Dublin Fire Brigade Review.
The HSE has planned to take back control of the service but firefighers are concerned about a drop in the level of service if they hand over the reins.
SIPTU had expressed concerns about HSE plans to remove the delivery of Dublin’s ambulance service from Dublin Fire Brigade.
In the statement this evening, SIPTU organiser, Brendan O’Brien:
Our members in Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) Ambulance Service have welcomed today’s announcement by the City Council that it will not be proceeding with its proposed review, pending the outcome of a national capacity review of the service announced recently by the HSE.
O’Brien said the decision vindicated their position that the review should be suspended until a fuller picture of ambulance provision across the country was available.
He added:
It is important that the campaign for the retention of the DFB Ambulance Service continues.We believe continuing this service is in the best interests of the citizens of Dublin.We are also reiterating our call for any review of the service to include stakeholder representation as well as persons with fire based expertise.
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