Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Photocall Ireland!
past due

More than €600,000 in fire brigade call-out charges went unpaid last year

The charges were introduced two years ago and stand at €500 for a domestic incident and €610 for a road crash.

THE DUBLIN FIRE Brigade is still waiting on more than half a million in unpaid call-out charges.

Last year fines totaling more than €678,000 were left unpaid.

This included unpaid domestic and commercial call outs. In total, 30.43% of commercial charges remained outstanding, while 52.86% of domestic charges still remain unpaid.

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council emphasised that they expect to recoup a large amount of this money.

It was specified that individuals are frequently able to come to an arrangement with the council, where charges are paid off in installments over a period of time.

Current charges

Call-out charges were introduced in 2012 at a domestic level – with a rate of €500 for attendance at a home fire and €610 for road crashes.

These were proceeded in 2003 by the implementation of call-out charges for commercial properties – with costs varying depending on the circumstances of the fire.

In 2012, the number of those who paid the domestic call-out charge totaled 59.86%. This remained steady in 2013, coming in at 58.86%.

Value to revenue 

Information relating to the charges comes from a question asked at a council meeting last month by councillor Ruairí Mcginley who was querying if there was “possible scope to increase revenue from this source.”

In 2012 there was €233,217 of outstanding fines across domestic and commercial call outs. In 2013 this rose to €348,570.

Since 2012 there has been an overall drop in the number of incidents – falling from 1,342 in 2012 to 1,148 last year. 

Read: Attacks on emergency services ‘utterly unacceptable’, but protective laws won’t be improved

Also: Dublin City Council to charge for fire brigade callouts

Your Voice
Readers Comments
57
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.