There’s good news for dozens of Clare’s part-time fire-fighters who are at risk of losing their unemployment benefits.
The government is to introduce legislation which ensures that part-time fire-fighters cannot be denied payments for choosing to stay on as retained fire staff instead of taking full-time work elsewhere.
Currently they are given job seekers payment for the days they spend on call and this requires them to live in close proximity to the fire station – therefore preventing them from taking up full time work elsewhere.
However Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara says the issue will be addressed in the upcoming Social Welfare Bill which will be a huge relief for the county’s fire-fighters.
