'Staggering loophole' impacting Waterford firefighters trying to get a home
Waterford Fire Station.
Firefighters in Waterford are facing being removed from Local Authority housing lists due to a "staggering loophole", according to a local councillor.
At the Plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council, Councillor Eamon Quinlan spoke about the challenges facing firefighters, referring to it as a "staggering loophole" that impacts on emergency workers' families.
He said: "If someone joins such emergency services and goes on the necessary training courses, for their own safety as well as the public who rely on them, they are naturally compensated financially for the additional work they are doing.
"This is typically a once-off or at most requires retraining five or so years later.
"This means if they join the Emergency Services, they will lose any years they have accrued. If they build up four to five years and are within touching distance of a home, they are removed and have to start all over again. They cannot have their years served reinstated."
Cllr Quinlan continued: "Worse again, if they have a joint application with their husband, wife, partner as they have a family, even if their partner is compliant and not a member of the emergency services, they are removed also. They lose everything.
He added: "This has flown under the radar for years and is a massive disservice to those in our community who dedicate themselves to the welfare of those around them, and are typically not well paid.
"Their saving grace, their chance of a home through social housing, is now systematically cutting the legs out from under them every few years."
Director of Services for Housing Helena Dennehy informed Cllr Quinlan that it was a policy that was not specific to Waterford, but nationally applied. Ms Dennehy noted that the loophole could only be closed through the Department of Housing.
Cllr Quinlan stated: "I am thankful to local firefighters who brought this to my attention. This needs to be attacked from all sides.
"I would hope public sector unions representing Emergency Workers would add this to their list of priorities when negotiating with the Government in the run up to this year's budget."
He added: "I will be writing directly to the Minister for Housing asking for this policy to be rescinded and provide an exemption for workers in such circumstances.
"I think if anyone were to take the State to court over something like this, the State could be on shaky ground as it naturally discriminates against a certain cohort of workers in Irish society."
