Hope for Tipperary fire station facing closure as recruitment drive draws new interest

Newport Fire Station in north Tipperary is at risk of closing at the end of 2026 if firefighter recruitment does not improve. The station has struggled to recruit since 2022 and is currently staffed by only three firefighters, far below a target of 12. Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service says recruitment campaigns have continued since 2022, with Newport-specific efforts intensified in 2025, but interest remains very low in the Newport and surrounding community. Existing members have retired while few new recruits have joined, reducing overall numbers. At a county council meeting, councillor John O'Heney raised concerns about understaffing across other stations and asked what could be done to address it. Chief fire officer John Shinners said an open day proved successful.

"Tipperary County Council has advised that Newport Fire Station is in danger of closing in 2026 if it cannot resolve the recruitment issue that has been affecting the station since 2022. The fire station currently only has three firefighters, well below the target of 12, which puts pressure on the staff there."

"Recruitment campaigns have been ongoing since 2022 and Newport specific campaigns intensified in 2025 but very low levels of interest are evident within the Newport and surrounding community. This has resulted in the overall numbers drop as existing members have retired and very few new people have joined."

"On staffing levels in some of our fire stations across the county, we constantly seem to be looking for more fire officers, is this something of a concern to us? Are staffing levels low in certain stations, and what can we do to rectify this? I'm fully aware that there is a very specific location that you must be living within five kilometres of the station to apply to be a fire officer, but it is a concern that some of our stations are understaffed."

"In response, newly-appointed chief fire officer John Shinners told the meeting that the open day proved successful,"

Read at Irish Independent