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A proposal to cut an estimated 15% of funding from the Fire and Rescue Service by Stormont has been criticised by SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley who said that proposed cuts to the Fire and Rescue Service are an attack on front line services.
Commenting on the Health Minister's plan to reduce the budget by 15% equating to £11.1m of a cut, Mr Bradley said 'We were told by the DUP and Sinn Fein that the budget would be based on the protection of front line services but here we see an all-out attack on one of our key services which is at the very heart of the protection of lives here - the fire and rescue service. Taking £11.1m out of a budget of £73m will make it impossible to maintain service delivery."
He continued "Cuts of this magnitude can only be achieved by station closures, job losses and a downgrading of emergency fire cover. I will be asking the Minister for a meeting to make known to him my strong opposition to the proposed cuts to the Fire and Rescue Service and the need to put the protection of life first."
