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Updated 3.43, 14 October
THE GOVERNMENT HAS rejected accusations that the introduction of the new Eircode postcode system could ‘cost lives’.
A representative body for emergency services fears that the introduction of the new system, which would see each address allocated a unique code, will mean that first responders may have difficulty in getting to the scene of an incident.
The Irish Fire and Emergency Services Association (IFESA) said their concerns mainly involve the ‘random’ nature of the code.
The organisation’s chairman, John Kidd, said that in other areas such as Northern Ireland, the codes are predictable, meaning emergency services are able to quickly figure out where the incident is.
He claimed that it “will cause confusion and may be catastrophic in terms of sending services to the wrong location”.
“Response times are always critical and anything that makes them worse is not suitable for our members,” Kidd said.
However, these accusations have been rejected by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, noting that stakeholder feedback has been largely positive.
A spokesperson for the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources noted that emergency services will not have to exclusively rely on a postcode when dispatched to an incident, as an address will have to be provided as well.
“The Emergency Call and Answering Service (ECAS) will therefore check if the Eircode is correct – so the scenario outlined [by the IFESA] will not happen,” they said.
“A problem with addressing in Ireland is that many houses, mainly in rural areas, have the same address,” the spokesperson said, “It is therefore hard to accurately locate such an address without additional information.”
The introduction of Eircodes will improve public services and safety, and will assist emergency services in locating addresses. The National Ambulance Service is keen to have the system rolled out and to assist with Rapid Patient Access.
The spokesperson added that ECAS will be fully briefed on the new system.
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4 hours?? The ones in Mayo have been burning for 2 full days now!!
The fires in Erris co mayo last night were one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen. People were even evacuated from their homes.
I’m on Achill for the week and we’ve seen smoke from the same area for 3 days now, nothing under control about the fires down here.
4 days now!
How are these fires starting? It’s not like we have had weeks of dry weather and scorching sunshine. I’m not being sarcastic, I’m just really curious as to how these fires are happening.
I kid you not , last year I rang the local Garda station about fires in our area. This is what the Garda said, no joke……
Garda – sir have you ever heard or NASA
Me – yes
Garda – well they told us that a meteor was about to land in Ireland somewhere this evening
Me – really , I heard nothing in any radio station , news , think that would be quite news worthy
Garda – well it’s just in
Me – really
Garda – yes , so it may have hit your area and that is causing the fires
Me – you are taking the piss !
Garda – no that is the truth
Me – right…….. Thanks ……. So it not a local farmer setting off the fires to burn the gorse !
Garda – no a meteor
Me – right ………thanks ………. Hung up ……… WTF!!
So in short , no one really cares if your house is burned down!
They are burning the heather and clearing land. But killing thousands and thousands of wildlife in the process. Normally the fire wouldn’t spread but because the weather is so dry it’s rampant. Only 3 fire engines battling 4 large fires in Mayo. They haven’t the resources to calm these fires.
Considering it was a fire would it not have been more appropriate to ring the fire brigade!!!
Why would you ring the gardai about a fire. Would u ring them when your sick as well???
Peter everybody knows that you ring the guards when you’re sick, you are locked out of your house, there is a fire, there’s an object in the sky which may be a flare or even a UFO, when there’s a smell of gas, when your sister gets sunburned, when you find a dog, when people communicate with you through their televisions, when you see a ghost, when you get crap food in a restaurant, when you are refused entry to a night club because you’re pissed and most of all when there is any sort of noise RING THE GUARDS they are trained in all of the above!
The fires were happening every night for 2 weeks ,hence rang the Garda as its illegal to light fires in public areas …………
its a gorse fire not a forest fire.
Could it be farmers clearing land for sheep?
They should ban this outright and start throwing people in jail for it before some one loses their home or worse.
Idiot farmers burning land they have no intention of using anyway because of some old notion that belongs with the fairy forts and leprechauns.
This state has a divison of the Civil Defence that is called the Auxiliary Fire Service. If all retained or FT unots are stretched then they should be utilised.
That fire in the Silvermines mountains last night was pretty terrifying, it stretched the whole length of the mountain, was a sight to see.
I was on my way home from Shannon. The smoke could be seen at the toll bridge on the Shannon side of Limerick and I could still see it from Borrisokane. From the Limerick side, it looked like the whole mountain was about to erupt. It was an amazing sight. Nowhere to pull up to take pics though. I can’t imagine the smell that must have lingered in those houses in its path. Everything must be destroyed.
Can be something stupid like someone throwing a cigarette butt to a spark from a chimney .
Love how they only let farmers burn before the 1st of march, great burning weather that time of the year!
Its shatters fault for trying to cut wages come on people open your eyes don’t be sheep
Not sure if troll….or complete idiot…. :|
Not to worry, the rains making a swift return.
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