Local Authority Staff Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Questions (374)

Joan Collins

Question:

374. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the workforce planning group has recommended that between two and three directors of service in addition to a head of finance is optimal for level five local authorities which includes Sligo County Council; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Sligo County Council currently has two directors of service, in addition to two acting directors of service plus a head of finance; the proposals in place to ensure that Sligo County Council complies with the recommendation of the workforce planning group regarding the number of directors of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53886/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The local government sector has been at the forefront in driving greater efficiencies and securing financial savings during the financial crisis. In this regard, payroll savings have been delivered mainly through staff reductions of almost 8,600 (23%) from 37,243 (June 2008) to 28,652 (September 2012). The departure of 8,600 staff from the sector since 2008 has inevitably impacted in different ways upon individual local authorities. My Department and local authorities have prioritised the examination of the present and future workforce demographic in the context of service delivery, organisational diversity, knowledge transfer, up-skilling/re-skilling and succession planning.

To support the sector in effectively managing the combination of staff reductions and the reform/change programme a Workforce Study has been undertaken jointly by local authorities and my Department. In particular, the study assesses the management requirements of local authorities bearing in mind the potential impacts of shared services and other reform initiatives underway. Each local authority is in turn preparing a detailed workforce plan outlining how it will implement the study’s recommendations.