Minister Refuses To Intervene In DCC Plan

Sinn Féin Dublin Central TD Mary Lou McDonald TD has secured a Dáil debate with environment, community and local government minister, Phil Hogan TD on the cost implication for the exchequer of an external recruitment process to fill 28 positions in the Dublin Fire Brigade, when new recruits could be directly hired from the Dublin Fire Brigade Panel disbanded earlier this year at a cost of €300,000 to the state.

Deputy McDonald said: "Dublin City Council's decision to fill 53 of the 80 vacant posts within the Dublin Fire Brigade is a good news story for the citizens of our capital city.

"Dublin City Council management's decision to embark on a costly external recruitment process to fill 28 of these positions is not however great news for the 100 or so recruits on the Dublin Fire Brigade Panel disbanded earlier this year.

"The Dublin Fire Brigade Panel was a costly affair at €300,000 and those who made it onto the panel only did so after passing a rigorous recruitment process.

"Why on earth would the city management embark on a new recruitment process before first going to the Panel to see if these new positions could be filled by suitable candidates at no extra cost to citizens?

"It really is astonishing that Minister Hogan has decided to sit back and take no action despite Dublin City Councils stated intent to progress a decision that will result in a significant waste of public monies.

"Minister Hogan may have lost interest in how local authorities are spending citizens’ hard earned cash however I intend to pursue the matter with Dublin City Council management."