Retained firefighters in Ireland have suspended their strike after an offer was made to guarantee their minimum income.

The offer was made at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) after talks between the firefighters' union, Siptu, and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA).

Under the offer, retained firefighters would be guaranteed a minimum income of €18,000 per year for new recruits, and €21,500 per year for firefighters with more than eight years of service.

Station officers would have secure minimum earnings of between €27,400 and €31,730 per year.

The offer also includes a reduction in the requirement for retained firefighters to be available from 48 weeks to 24 weeks per year, with an option to be available more frequently on a voluntary basis.

Siptu said the offer was a "good first step" in its campaign to rebuild the retained fire service, and that it would be put to its members for a vote.

The strike action had been in place since July, and had caused disruption to fire services in many parts of the country.

The firefighters had been demanding a guaranteed minimum income, as well as improvements to recruitment and rostering practices.

The LGMA said it was pleased that the strike had been suspended, and that it would continue to work with Siptu to reach a final agreement.

The dispute over the pay and conditions of retained firefighters has been ongoing for several years.

Retained firefighters are part-time firefighters who are paid a retainer to be on call for fire stations. They are not full-time employees and do not receive the same benefits as full-time firefighters.

The dispute has highlighted the challenges facing the retained fire service in Ireland. The service is facing a recruitment crisis, and many stations are understaffed.

The new offer is seen as a positive step towards resolving the dispute and rebuilding the retained fire service. However, it remains to be seen whether the offer will be accepted by the firefighters' union.