'Constructive' talks on fire service funding

Firefighters are coming under increased attack in NI

The union representing the Northern Ireland Fire Service has met Health Minister Bairbre de Brun over attacks on officers and "inadequate" funding.

It is estimated that there were 800 attacks on fire crews in Northern Ireland last year, injuring dozens of officers.

James Barbour, of the Fire Brigades Union, said they felt they had to tell Ms de Brun, whose office is responsible for public safety, that the situation is becoming intolerable.

"Whilst a number of important matters arise from the recent PAC (Public Accounts Committee) report into the Northern Ireland Fire Service, it was vital that we placed matters such as Fire Service funding and attacks on our firefighters at the top of the agenda," he said.

We are happier now, than we were before we went to see the minister

James Barbour
Union spokesman

"Our firefighters have suffered enough. This situation is totally intolerable and politicians must begin to take decisive action to avert tragedy.

He said that the funding "crisis" in the fire service in the province was "exemplified" by the fact that brigades in England and Wales received an additional £53m and in Scotland received a further £18m.

But he said the meeting with Ms de Brun had been "constructive".

He added that the minister seemed receptive to the fire brigade's hope of getting funding from the department for an outreach programme into the community to try to change the culture of attacks on fire crews.

While the Northern Ireland service was suffering because it is less well funded than brigades in England and Wales, he said: "I understand we are working within the restraints of the Northern Ireland block grant.

"But we are happier now, than we were before we went to see the minister."

Mr Barbour was accompanied at the meeting by Billy Bell, chairman of the Assembly Public Accounts Committee and Ivan Davis of the Ulster Unionist Party.