Fire call-out fees to increase and yearly reviews approved

Call-out charges for use of the fire service in Westmeath are to go up – and are to be increased on a yearly basis going forward, members of Westmeath County Council have decided.

The move was agreed at the local authority’s March monthly meeting, following a recommendation from chief executive Barry Kehoe, who said the charges had remained unchanged since 2012 despite rising costs and increased demands on the service.

Under the new structure, which comes into effect from April 1, non-domestic incidents and other domestic fires will cost €800 per hour per Class B appliance, up from €675, while domestic chimney fires will rise from €500 to €600 per hour.

Addressing members, Mr Kehoe said the increase was necessary after 14 years without any revision, during which time inflation of approximately 23%, a 2023 Workplace Relations Commission determination, and expanded fire service operations had all contributed to a widening gap between charges and the actual cost of providing the service.

He stressed that in most cases, fire service call-out charges are paid by insurance companies rather than individual households or businesses, meaning the direct financial impact on the public would be limited. A hardship policy, allowing reductions of up to 50% in certain cases, will remain in place.

Mr Kehoe also proposed that charges be reviewed annually as part of the council’s budget process, rather than allowing them to remain static for long periods.

“Regular, incremental reviews are far preferable to infrequent large increases,” he told councillors, adding that such an approach would ensure charges remain aligned with costs in a transparent and predictable way.

Councillors across the chamber voiced strong support for both the increase and the move to annual reviews, while also paying tribute to the county’s fire personnel.

Cllr David Jones praised the “vital service” provided by firefighters, particularly highlighting the importance of the Castlepollard station to north Westmeath. He raised concerns, however, about the potential financial burden in prolonged incidents and called for continued flexibility in dealing with hardship cases.

Cllr Alfie Devine noted that Westmeath has just four fire stations – fewer than many neighbouring counties – but said the county was well served in terms of equipment and training. He suggested that a future meeting should include a detailed presentation from the chief fire officer on service needs and equipment replacement.

Seconding the proposal for annual increases, Cllr Denis Leonard warned that long gaps between reviews can result in sharp rises that appear excessive to the public. He also called for greater engagement with insurance companies, arguing that some claims related to fire call-outs are not always fully honoured.

Cllr Julie McCourt said the increase was justified given the length of time since the last revision and the rising cost of equipment and services, while Cllr Ken Glynn stressed the importance of promoting awareness of the hardship scheme so that no one would hesitate to contact emergency services due to cost concerns.

Cllr Frankie Keena raised a query regarding third-party call-outs and liability for charges, while Cllr Tom Farrell emphasised the importance of adequate fire insurance for homeowners.

Cllr Liam McDaniel sought clarification on billing arrangements for road traffic accidents involving multiple vehicles, and Cllr Bill Collentine supported the proposal while suggesting that fire insurance should effectively be a necessity for property owners.

The cathaoirleach, Cllr Aoife Davitt, welcomed the proposal and echoed calls for a future briefing from the incoming chief fire officer, noting the importance of keeping councillors informed on the evolving needs of the service.

Responding to members, the council’s chief finance officer Michael Hand confirmed that income generated from fire service charges is reinvested directly back into the service. He also clarified that in cases such as road traffic accidents involving multiple vehicles, both parties may be billed until liability is determined, while third-party call-outs can sometimes prove difficult to recover costs from. He added that local authority tenants are covered for fire-related costs up to €1,500.