WHILE Limerick awaits the promised “greater efficiencies and improved service delivery” from what has been termed the “biggest shake-up of local government in the history of the State”, the reality is that further reductions in staffing levels will put Limerick City Council at crisis point in delivering services. Commenting to the Limerick Post, Cllr John Gilligan said that the council had been assured of a €20million saving when it became the first merged authority in the country.
“I predicted there would be no savings and I was right – That sum went down to €7mllion and the Implementation Team now says that it will maybe be between €2 and €3million, if we’re lucky.”
With no definite figures yet released from City Hall regarding further reductions in staffing levels, Cllr Glligan said that while there has been a 20 per cent loss in the past two years, the amalgamation of both councils will lead to further staff reductions.
Mayor Gerry McLoughlin believes that while there is “a lot of housekeeping to be done,” the city manager is “moving very fast
“We are a catalyst for other councils in the country, in that we are the first n the amalgamation process but Enterprise Boards and other bodies could be disbanded.”
Welcoming the Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Limerick chamber, chief executive, Maria Kelly said the reduction of local authorities from 114 to 31 will generate much needed savings
“At present, with €850 million in savings and a 23% reduction in staff, the Local Government system has made the biggest contribution to cost savings in the public service. It is now time that the rest of the public service follow suit through further delivery on the Croke Park Agreement.”
