Serious Issues Surround Council Staff Cuts

Serious Issues Surround Council Staff Cuts

Figures released to Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary by city management show that Cork City Council lost 138 staff in recent times, with early retirement and redundancy schemes costing the local authority €412,875. Cllr O’Leary said that while the staff reductions were hitting local services hard, there were serious questions over their value as a money-saving measure, with some former council employees being taken on to do their previous jobs as private contactors.

Cllr O’Leary said:

“In response to a question from me, the City Manager has revealed the council lost 138 staff in recent times. Among the hardest hit departments were housing, down 27 staff, and recreation and culture, down 31.”

“The impact of these cuts can be seen in the lengthening waiting lists for housing maintenance and in places like St Finbarr’s Cemetery, which the council no longer has the manpower to maintain to a proper standard.”

“However while these cutbacks are having an undeniable impact on council services, it is less certain whether they are producing the savings that management would claim. Just two schemes, affecting 31 staff – the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER) and the Incentivised Career Break Scheme (ICR) – cost the council €412,875. Meanwhile some of the work formerly done by the council’s own employees is being contracted out to the private sector. I have information of at least one case where such a company has subcontracted former council staff, at reduced pay, to carry out the work.”

“The Manager claims to be unaware of these practices, despite a previous motion of council demanding private contractors provide a list of their employees. There needs to be a full review of the ISER and ICR schemes and the system of contracting work previously carried out by council employees to private companies.”

For further information contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307