DFB question.

47

Does anyone know if Dublin Fire Brigade will accept a Degree in lieu of there standard entry requirements for a firefighter. I have tried to contact DFB headquaters to no avail. Any information greatly appreciated.

Muas Tenek

All entrants to DFB at firefighter level go through the same selection process (apply through publicjobs.ie - aptitude test, interview etc) the only part of DFB that requires a degree is at senior officer level i.e. Assistant Chief Officer or Chief Officer - which requires a degree in civil or mechanical engineering

47

cheers for that. But what I am asking is will they accept a degree as the equivelant standard.

"Each candidate must have obtained at least Grade D (or a pass) in five subjects, including Mathematics and English from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Intermediate, Junior or Group Certificate Examination or in an examination of at least equivalent standard"

Muas Tenek

Yes that is the minimum requirement - but a caveat here would be that a degree holder would have no greater qualification than a leaving cert holder and therefore no better chance of qualification at that level.

(Firefighter level)

47

Thanks a million for your help. I didnt think they'd allow me to join without having passed 5 junior/leaving subjects. I am in the final year of my degree I wasn't exactly thrilled about the possibility of doing the leaving certificate to meet the standard to become a firefighter.

stevie06

47 wrote: »

Thanks a million for your help. I didnt think they'd allow me to join without having passed 5 junior/leaving subjects. I am in the final year of my degree I wasn't exactly thrilled about the possibility of doing the leaving certificate to meet the standard to become a firefighter.

I dunno, maybe i'm missing something, but i would have thought that a level 7 or 8 degree would be a higher standard of education than the junior cert/Leaving cert. once you had covered Maths in college i would imagine that you would be ok. but the only people that can decide if your degree would qualify you is the DFB.

Bang Bang

You should contact Dublin City Council Human Resources Department in Civic Offices Dublin 8.
It's this department that takes care of employment and education qualifications for all areas of the Council including the Fire Brigade, see the attached link >> http://www.dublincity.ie/YourCouncil/AbouttheCouncil/CouncilDepartments/Pages/HRDepartment.aspx

There's a 'ban' on recruitment at the moment and there's also a panel of potential recruits in place. Having said that you could take the time to further any skills or education that may assist you when recruitment comes around again.
The best of luck.

dfbemt

DCC are the ones to contact for a definitive answer as nobody here knows for certain.

My advice would be to get your answer in writing rather than verbally over the phone.

TylerIE

47 wrote: »

Thanks a million for your help. I didnt think they'd allow me to join without having passed 5 junior/leaving subjects. I am in the final year of my degree I wasn't exactly thrilled about the possibility of doing the leaving certificate to meet the standard to become a firefighter.

If they wouldnt accept a Level 7 / 8 Degree because you didnt have a level 3/4/5 Junior / Leaving Cert then I dont know what the country is coming to.

Its worth contacting them directly, and getting it in writing. Some of the last recruits to the HSE had issues as a Leaving Cert was required, but later this came to exclude the Leaving Cert Applied (which is a leaving cert)! Others who were already at NREMT level assumed this would cover them but it didnt.

47

cheers for all the help guys

Shield

TylerIE wrote: »

If they wouldnt accept a Level 7 / 8 Degree because you didnt have a level 3/4/5 Junior / Leaving Cert then I dont know what the country is coming to.

There are a lot of degree programs that don't cover maths at all. Why do you think that because someone has a L7 or L8 degree in Sports Studies (for example) that they should be exempt from the LC standard of Maths? I don't see your argument?

Muas Tenek

47 wrote: »

"Each candidate must have obtained at least Grade D (or a pass) in five subjects, including Mathematics and English from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Intermediate, Junior or Group Certificate Examination or in an examination of at least equivalent standard"

The OP answered his own question in the 3rd post in this thread - this is the least acceptable qualification. A level 6, 7 or 8 diploma or degree far supercedes a level 3, 4 or even 5 certificate.
(Slightly OT but to give perspective) Most of these minimum requirements were introduced in the 1970's to encourage young people to stay in education until at least a "group or intermediate certificate" (now called Junior Certificate) as there was at that time a lot of falling off of education to enter a trade at age 15/16.

BTW Maths, English and Irish were mentioned as they where "Core Subjects" and were also part of the requirements for acceptance for Garda recruitment.

As Bang Bang quite rightly said there is currently a moratorium on Public Service recruitment and there is also a previous panel of recruits already accepted awaiting the next recruitment, it may be some time before a new panel of recruits will be formed.

TylerIE

Shield wrote: »

There are a lot of degree programs that don't cover maths at all. Why do you think that because someone has a L7 or L8 degree in Sports Studies (for example) that they should be exempt from the LC standard of Maths? I don't see your argument?

While some people do have exceptional difficulty with Maths through no fault of their own, somebody who has went to the effort to further themselves (without a leaving cert as a stepping stone) to degree level is quite likely to be willing and able to learn or work on any maths that was needed for the role of firefighter.

There are Paramedics from years ago who may not have leaving certificates or equivalent, but who are still able to manage drug dosages etc.

If the standard was an A or B in Ordinary or a C in higher, and the role involved comprehension of complex maths, one could see why there couldnt be exemptions. But trigonometry etc?

If nothing else I would have hoped that with a degree being a higher standard than Leaving Cert, it meets the "minimum requirements", and that any State Organisation would be delighted to get someone who was self-motivated enough to pursue education despite not getting or having a leaving cert.