Younger members of Dublin Fire Brigade, who feel betrayed by the new government due to its failure to honour commitments on pension reform, have delivered a letter to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, calling for an urgent meeting.

According to Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) organiser, Geoff McEvoy, the current structure of the pension scheme means that those who have joined the service since 2013 are “expected to subsist on a vastly reduced income for the first years of their retirement”.

“The policy of the previous government meant that younger members of the uniformed services, including firefighters, An Garda Siochana, the Defence Forces and the Prison Service are facing future financial hardship,” he said.

The issue means that several younger members are considering leaving the service.

McEvoy continued: “As part of the Secure Our Futures campaign, these workers came together to highlight this issue before the General Election and received commitments from certain TDs that the issue would be addressed by the incoming government.”

However, he said they “felt a sense of betrayal” when they realised there was no mention of the issue in the recently published, Programme for Government.

Therefore, they have now asked the new Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, to meet with them.

SIPTU activist and Dublin Fire Brigade firefighter, Tom Larkin, added: “Fianna Fáil representatives made commitments to firefighters in the last election that this issue would receive the attention it deserves. However, even though they are the largest party in the government there is no mention of it in the Programme for Government.”

“Our members feel betrayed but are hopeful that the new Minister can provide clarity and reassurance on the new government’s position.”

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage directed media requests about the scheme to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which is yet to respond.

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