Clare County Councillors have today adopted the Fire and Emergency Operations Plan 2026 – 2031, a multi-million-euro investment, and a framework to meet the needs of a modern fire and rescue service and the communities it serves.
The Plan brings together emergency response, fire prevention, firefighter training, equipment, communications and major-emergency preparedness. It reflects changing incident patterns and places an emphasis on matching resources to assessed local risk and service demand, while supporting sustainable staffing arrangements.
It also outlines a significant investment in the county service including an initial investment of €15 million which includes a €10 million investment in the Redevelopment of Ennis Fire Station, €1.3 million investment in an aerial rescue fire appliance and more than €850,000 investment in upgrading Firefighting PPE equipment and Breathing Apparatus Sets.
These measures sit alongside continued preparation for severe weather and major emergencies.
Clare Chief Fire Officer Adrian Kelly, said, “A modern fire service must be equipped for more than traditional firefighting. This Plan recognises the changing nature of call-outs, including medical and ambulance assistance, storm-related hazards and road clean-ups, alongside fires, road traffic collisions and other emergencies. Continued training, specialist capabilities and joint planning with partner agencies will support the Service in responding to these demands.”
He added staffing levels are shaped by local risk and call-out numbers, while also reflecting the implementation of the 2023 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Recommendations for the Retained Fire Service.
“Crew levels have increased across the county to provide structured time off while maintaining minimum personnel availability. The week-on, week-flexible, model supports a more sustainable retained service, with personnel able to attend incidents during their week off,” he added.
“Prevention remains central to the plan. Home fire safety visits, school programmes and community education will complement fire-safety inspections and building control work, helping to reduce the likelihood and impact of fires.”