Almost 2,000 retained firefighters belonging to SIPTU have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action up-to and including strike action over plans to decrease crewing levels on fire appliances.
The ballot saw 97% of firefighters vote for industrial action, while 95% were prepared to take full strike action.
The turnout was 80%.
Firefighters have argued that any reduction in firefighting crewing levels could jeopardise the health and safety not just of the firefighters themselves, but of the public.
SIPTU represents over 1,700 of the 2,000 retained firefighters employed by local authorities nationwide.
SIPTU Sector Organiser Brendan O'Brien accused the Department of the Environment of repeatedly failing to provide any assurance that the proposed reductions in crewing levels would not threaten safety.
He urged Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Governmen Alan Kelly to intervene to ensure that the Department did not implement proposals in the policy document called "Keeping Communities Safe".
Department denies plans to cut staffing on fire appliances
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has denied it has any plans to cut staffing on fire appliances.
In a statement the department said there were no proposals to change any aspect of fire service provision, other than normal ongoing changes.
It said that specifically, there were no proposals for a reduction in staffing levels in fire stations or crewing levels on fire appliances.
It also noted that in contrast with all other areas of local authority activity, there had been no reduction in staffing numbers or annual expenditure on fire services in recent years.
It defended the local authorities' "assiduous" work to discharge their statutory responsibilities for employee and public safety.
The statement added it was regrettable retained fire services appeared to be getting drawn into other disputes.
It concluded by saying the door remained open for SIPTU to clarify what, if any, issues they are in dispute about.
