Local Authority Expenditure

Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Questions (409)

Joan Collins

Question:

409. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the annual budgets drafted by senior council officials and presented to councillors for adoption have led to Sligo County Council having the highest overall deficit balance of all county and city councils as outlined in its respective annual financial statements; if it has been further brought to his attention that Sligo County Council had a deficit of €2,815,649 in its revenue account for the year ending 31 December 2008, a deficit of €3,232,961 for the year ending 31 December 2009, a deficit of €2,463,505 for the year ending 31 December 2010, a deficit of €2,973,000 for the year ending 31 December 2011 and a deficit of €2,455,000 for the year ending 31 December 2012; and that according to the most recent auditor's report, released in November 2013, the council's total revenue-capital debt has now increased to €94 million; if he will consider introducing legislation to allow the new Sligo county manager to remove or transfer senior council officials she considers incompetent and-or inept; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54191/13]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 118 and 119 of 14 November 2013 which sets out the position in relation to the annual budgetary process in respect of Sligo County Council. In relation to the assignment of staff, under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is a matter for the manager to make such staffing and organisational arrangements as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for the manager to assign duties to Council employees.

Question No. 410 answered with Question No. 407.