Firefighters want compensation if attacked on the job

SIPTU says this compensation already exists in many professions.

A NEW COMPENSATION scheme may become available to firefighters in Dublin who are assaulted on the job.

The Labour Court recommended that Dublin City Council discuss the introduction of such a scheme with SIPTU and IMPACT.

Dublin City Council employs 800 full time firefighters.

SIPTU’s Brendan O’Brien said “Attacks don’t happen everyday and relatively speaking the numbers are small but we’d like to see it introduced so it’s there when needed.”

Similar schemes are available for prison officers, psychiatric nurses and gardaí. We’re not looking for anything new, we just want the same for our members.

The Irish Fire and Emergency Services Association (IFESA) said the number of reported incidents were small in comparison to the 100,000 calls attended every year but that there are cases, such as a brick being thrown at the window of a fire truck in Tallaght.

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