Retained firefighters could be given pay rises of at least 24% and guarantees that 400 more positions will be filled to help address staff shortage concerns.
The plans are included in a Labour Court recommendation, which has outlined a series of proposals in a bid to prevent potential future strike action.
In an ongoing dispute which the Labour Court has been asked to help resolve, Ireland's retained firefighters are seeking significant improvements in working arrangements to address what they say is a recruitment and retention crisis.
The situation resulted in industrial action in recent weeks.
The majority of Ireland's retained firefighters are represented by trade union SIPTU, which has agreed to consider Labour Court proposals alongside the State's Local Government Management Agency.
The recommendations include:
- A retained annual payment scale rise of between 24.1% and 32.7% depending on individual retained firefighter.
- 400 more positions filled.
- Retained firefighter numbers in each area to be increased to 12, with six on and six off at any particular time.
- "Arrangements" for community-based fire prevention policies and plans to be put in place nationally.
Among other recommendations are an "urgent" request to fill current retained firefighter vacancies; and for a more specific system to be introduced for sick leave requests.
SIPTU is likely to respond to the recommendations on tomorrow morning, while the Local Government Management Agency is also expected to respond.
In a statement to RTÉ News, a Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage spokesperson said Minister Darragh O'Brien would like both sides of the stand-off to examine the Labour Court recommendations as soon as possible.
"The Minister notes the Labour Court recommendations and thanks them for their input into the process. He will continue to support the local government sector in resolving this dispute at the earliest possible time.
"The Minister encourages both sides to engage fully in this process and hopes that there will be a positive outcome," the spokesperson said.
