Bad for Ennis efficiency review

THE Ennis East and West Electoral area committees have objected strongly to the report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group, as they fear that it will mean a loss of services and further cuts in revenue to local authorities.

At meetings of both area committees this week, councillors voiced their concerns that if many of the recommendations of the report come to pass, it will be next to impossible for certain jobs, including road maintenance, to be undertaken to a high standard.
The report of the review groups has a list of recommendations, including the transfer of many local services to the county council from town councils, the sharing of managerial roles and greater sharing of services between local authorities, with a view to saving €511 million in the coming years.
Ennis town manager and director of services with Clare County Council, Ger Dollard, said that the report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group is a very significant report and has very serious implications for the local authority sector.
“There are some 106 recommendations in the report, which centre on administration, staffing, procurement, financial and other areas. Implementation of the report will change the local authority service as we know it and will have an impact on services provided.
“Clare County Council has, in the last two years, lost close to 150 staff and the range of functions and services has not changed.
“If anything, the demands and requirements on the sector have increased.
It is accepted that there is always scope for improvement and Clare County Council has been securing efficiencies across the board. The implementation of the recommendations in the report will involve a radical change in the entire local authority structure countrywide and impact on the current level of service provided,” he said.
Councillor James Breen suggested that the report be ruled “out of hand”.
“This would have very serious implications for the services the council provides and would also essentially strip Ennis Town Council of much of its role. In an urban area like Ennis, this would have very serious consequences and I cannot see any way how it would work.
“Our resources, including staff, services and budget, would be drastically reduced. The council is already to the pin of its collar trying to provide services and this will only make matters worse,” he commented.
Chairman of the Ennis West area, Councillor Tom McNamara, said that already in the Ennis area councillors had noticed that small jobs can’t be done due to a lack of resources. “It would only get worse if these recommendations come into play,” he remarked.
Councillor Tony Mulqueen said he would find it very hard to agree with the report when it would essentially mean that even less jobs could be done. “This is bad news for councils and the public in general, because whatever spin is being put on it, it will mean less services and less jobs being done. We all know that the country is in a dire financial situation but while this might cut money, it is only bad news for the public,” he said.
At the Ennis East area meeting, councillors were of the same mind. Councillor Johnny Flynn said that the biggest impact of the recommendations being enforced is the freezing of recruitment and non-replacement of vacant positions.
Senior engineer Eamonn O’Dea said three retiring members of staff of the roads department in the Ennis area would not be replaced. Their work would be taken up by the redeployment and shifting of staff in other areas.
Councillor Tommy Brennan was concerned if any finances would be provided to councils to implement these changes.
Both area committees agreed to formalise their concerns on the report and raise the matter at a full meeting of Clare County Council.