JUDGING from the number of enquiries to date, Dublin Corporation believes it will get between 4,000 and 5,000 applicants for the recently advertised positions of firefighter.

Dublin Corporation recruits to the fire brigade service every four years. The number of posts varies however, depending largely on the needs of the service and the requirements as set down by the Department of the Environment.

According to John Wade of the Corporation's personnel department, the number of jobs available in the fire brigade has yet to be decided. It will be early next year before a final list of suitable candidates is drawn up. Following the completion of either an aptitude test or a psychometric test, a final list of candidates will be interviewed some time after Christmas.

Applicants must be between 18 years of age and 26 on the October 31st, 1996. This is the latest date for receipt of applications.

Those who apply must not be less that 5ft 6in in height. A level of fitness required to undertake all fire service duties must be demonstrable. Candidates will be expected to have a certain level of strength also, and this will be assessed by tests of hand grip and leg/back-pull strength.

The successful applicants will spend a period of 20 weeks training at Dublin Corporation's Fire Brigade Training Centre in Marino. This includes 14 weeks of operational training and a further six weeks on the emergency ambulance service.

They will then work for a probationary period of 12 months with the fire service. On satisfactory completion of this first year, candidates will become pensionable.

In addition to the basic wage scale, which ranges from £225.16 to £358.33 per week, payments to firefighters are made in respect of night and weekend duty and a rent allowance is also payable.

There are currently 785 firefighters working with the fire service, which serves the Dublin area and the three adjoining local authorities. The service covers both the fire and the emergency ambulance services. Dun Laoghaire had its own fire service; however it was amalgamated with Dublin in 1994.

A stamped self-addressed A4 envelope must be enclosed with each request for application forms which are available from the personnel department of Dublin Corporation at Block 4, Floor 4, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.