The National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS), South West College (SWC), and the Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), has secured over €2 million (£1.8 million) in funding through the EU PEACEPLUS Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). This major cross-border initiative aims to strengthen emergency preparedness, improve mutual aid, and enhance interoperability between fire and rescue services across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The project, titled TACTICS (Training Across Communities for Tactical Interoperability for Cross-Border Safety), will foster greater collaboration between firefighters and emergency responders from both sides of the border. It focuses on joint training, large-scale simulation exercises, and specialist development programs designed to boost community resilience, particularly in border regions. The NIFRS Learning and Development College in Cookstown will serve as the project’s central hub, offering advanced facilities for urban search and rescue, high-volume pumping, and multi-agency training.
Ireland’s Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, welcomed the funding, highlighting that the project places public and firefighter safety at the core of cross-border emergency planning. He emphasized that the €2.05 million investment would help upskill frontline teams and enhance cooperation between the two jurisdictions to better respond to emergencies and extreme weather events.
Keith Leonard, Director of the NDFEM, described the initiative as the culmination of extensive collaboration between fire services on both sides of the border. He noted that harmonizing procedures and training would increase the efficiency and speed of response to emergencies, further strengthening operational integration and preparedness across Ireland.
NIFRS Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Aidan Jennings stated that the PEACEPLUS project would significantly improve the capability and resilience of fire and rescue services in border areas. He pointed to tragic incidents such as the Cresslough explosion, fatal fires, and severe weather events as evidence of the need for stronger cross-border cooperation. Jennings emphasized that the project embodies the spirit of the PEACEPLUS programme by promoting shared capacity, mutual aid, and long-term resilience through joint training and governance structures. He also highlighted the role of the new Learning and Development College as a foundation for ongoing collaboration, expressing gratitude to SEUPB and all partners for their efforts in securing the funding and ensuring a safer, more resilient island community.
