Newly-released figures show the Clare Fire Service receives an average of over 150 hoax calls each year.
757 such calls were made to the local fire service in the five years to 2011, with over 180 in 2007 alone.
While the majority of these are classified as good intent, 214 are described as malicious in figures released by the Department of the Environment.
While the exact cost is not known, senior sources within the Clare Fire Service have told Clare FM that they estimate each unnecessary call out to cost around 1,000 euro.
Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn says it also has implications for public safety
