asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that Cork County Council, bearing in mind his circular recommending economies in local administration, decided that there was no need for a third assistant county manager in the county; and whether, as one assistant county manager has now been promoted, he will sanction the council's decision not to fill the vacancy and thus effect a saving of £1,800 to the ratepayers of the county.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Third Assistant County Manager: Cork Vacancy.
An extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Cork County Council at which a motion was passed to the effect that the council are of opinion that one manager and two assistants are sufficient to run the affairs of the county was forwarded by the local authority to my Department for information. No question of my sanction arises as no request for sanction to any proposal in connection with the matter has been made by the local authority. On the contrary, I understand that the statutory request has been made by the local authority to the Local Appointments Commissioners in connection with the filling of the post of assistant county manager which is now vacant.
Do I understand the Minister to say that the county council officers did not submit a resolution clearly passed by the Cork County Council? To indicate how clearly it was passed the council deleted from the estimates the money that would be made available for the assistant county manager.
I do not think there is anything to add to the reply, that is, that we did not receive any resolution seeking the sanction of the Minister to do anything.
Did the Minister not ask county councils to economise as much as possible? Having regard to the circular which he sent, the Cork County Council felt that one manager and two assistants would be quite sufficient to meet their requirements. Accordingly they deleted from the estimates for the current year the amount payable for another assistant manager if he were appointed. That resolution was submitted by the council to the Minister for his approval.
Apparently it was a rather a foolish undertaking to delete something from the estimates and not ensure that the necessary steps were carried out.
Then I take it that the Minister, in forwarding this circular to the local authorities, is not genuine in his efforts to effect economies and to co-operate with the local authorities?
The Deputy may not understand any such thing. I have given him the facts as I know them. No resolution for my sanction was submitted by the Deputy's council.