TACTICS initiative strengthens emergency preparedness and firefighter safety across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
🔥 A Major Investment in Safety
The National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), in partnership with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS), South West College (SWC), and the Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education & Training Board (MSLETB), has secured more than €2 million (£1.8 million) in funding from the EU PEACEPLUS programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
The funding will support the TACTICS Project (Training Across Communities for Tactical Interoperability for Cross-Border Safety), a three‑year initiative designed to enhance emergency preparedness, mutual aid, and interoperability between fire and rescue services north and south of the border.
🚒 Shared Training and Facilities
The project will bring together firefighters and emergency personnel from both jurisdictions for:
- Joint training and exercises
- Specialist development programmes
- Large‑scale simulation drills
The NIFRS Learning and Development College in Cookstown will serve as the central hub, offering state‑of‑the‑art facilities for urban search and rescue (USAR), high‑volume pumping (HVP), and multi‑agency training.
🗣️ Leadership Voices
- Minister James Browne TD welcomed the investment, calling it “an essential and timely injection of support” to upskill frontline teams and strengthen collaboration.
- Keith Leonard, Director of NDFEM, said the project will ensure both services operate under aligned procedures, improving speed and efficiency in emergencies.
- Aidan Jennings, NIFRS Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, highlighted the importance of building resilience in border communities, noting tragic incidents such as Cresslough and the growing risks of severe weather, flooding, and wildfires.
🌍 Building Resilience Across Borders
The TACTICS Project embodies the spirit of PEACEPLUS, fostering cooperation and shared capacity to respond to emergencies. By harmonising training and operational standards, the initiative aims to:
- Strengthen community resilience in border regions
- Enhance firefighter and public safety
- Create a long‑term framework for collaboration
In summary: With over €2 million in EU PEACEPLUS funding, the TACTICS Project marks a significant step in cross‑border emergency cooperation. By uniting fire and rescue services across Ireland and Northern Ireland, the initiative will deliver shared training, improved interoperability, and stronger resilience for communities facing increasingly complex emergencies.
Firetruck Picture by Wolfgang Weiser: https://www.pexels.com/photo/modern-fire-truck-in-hamburg-germany-outdoors-28986723/
