National Emergency Coordination Group Warns of Growing Impact From Ongoing Fuel Protests
Fire services restrict operations to preserve fuel as NECG warns school transport could face disruption when services resume on Monday.
The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) has issued a stark warning about the impact of the ongoing fuel protests, confirming that fire services across Ireland have been forced to restrict operations and that school transport services returning after Easter could face disruption.
The NECG met again today (Friday 10 April) to assess the impact of the protests, now in their fourth day, on the transport network and provision of vital services.
Emergency services under pressure
The NECG confirmed that fuel supplies for emergency response vehicles, including those of the National Ambulance Service and fire services, are under increasing pressure. These vehicles rely on retail fuel forecourts for their supply through the use of fuel cards.
From today, fire services across Ireland have had to put contingency measures in place to manage restricted fuel availability. Fire services will cease non-essential activities, including training, and responses to non-life-threatening callouts will be restricted in order to preserve fuel.
The NECG also raised serious concern about the impact on the National Ambulance Service. Contingency arrangements have been put in place, and while the service continues to respond to 999 calls and life-threatening and clinically urgent calls, inter-hospital transfers and ambulance transport for routine care and discharges are being curtailed.
A subgroup of the NECG has been established to coordinate contingency measures to address the fuel supply issues facing emergency services.
Fuel supply
Three national fuel depots at Whitegate Refinery, Shannon Foynes Port, and the Port of Galway remain restricted due to the protests, with movement at all three sites described as extremely limited. More than 100 fuel stations are currently out of supply, with the number potentially rising to 500 today. The NECG noted there are approximately 1,500 fuel stations nationwide.
There is growing concern from international shipping companies about the ability to offload stock at some Irish ports. The Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment continues to engage closely with the fuel sector.
The public is urged to only buy the fuel they need. The NECG also warned that storing fuel at home or in unsafe locations presents significant safety risks.
Health services
People continue to miss scheduled health appointments due to travel issues. The provision of health and social care services is affected, including home care and critical care such as dialysis and cancer treatment.
The NECG stressed that clear and safe access to healthcare settings must be maintained for all healthcare workers, including those in hospitals, home care workers, and those delivering services such as Meals on Wheels.
The HSE is advising anyone who missed an appointment due to the disruption to contact the relevant service, and they will be facilitated with getting another appointment quickly.
Agri-food and farming
In addition to concerns about the import of critical inputs including animal feed and fertiliser, getting containers out for export is now emerging as a serious concern. The NECG noted this is significant for a sector which exports almost 90% of its production.
The Department of Agriculture has been informed that restricted diesel supply could begin to affect milk collection from farmers soon. There are also concerns about animal welfare arising from the severe transport disruption, with farmers advised to plan journeys carefully and ensure adequate water, feed, and drinking equipment when transporting animals.
School transport and travel
Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth, has confirmed that school transport services are due to resume on Monday 13 April after the Easter holiday period. However, Bus Éireann has warned that if the protests continue to impact road access and fuel distribution, there are likely to be delays and potential service disruption to some services. Bus Éireann will endeavour to advise families of any disruption as soon as information is available.
The Minister for Transport is considering a temporary derogation of regulations on driving hours and rest times for road hauliers transporting fuel, to enable flexibility for drivers and businesses to keep supply chains moving when the situation is resolved.
The public are advised to plan their journey before travelling and allow extra travel time. The National Transport Authority has a dedicated web page for information on service disruptions, and live traffic information is available at traffic.tii.ie.
An Garda Síochána has moved to an enforcement phase in relation to those impacting on critical infrastructure unless they desist and disperse. Gardaí and the Defence Forces are working collaboratively in this regard.
The NECG will continue to meet on an ongoing basis and provide regular updates to Government.
