Council Must Avoid False Economies-Gould

Council Must Avoid False Economies-Gould

Reacting to last night’s report on savings achieved by Cork City Council under the Croke Park Agreement, Sinn Féin councillor Thomas Gould said the council must avoid false economies and asked management to detail the impact of the measures on services.

Cllr Gould said:

“There are several aspects of this report which are to be welcomed. The savings achieved on consultancy fees, on procurement and in the cost of the council’s electricity supply are all steps in the right direction. Where the council succeeds in achieving genuine efficiencies, its management is to be applauded.”

“However the largest category of saving identified in the report is staff costs. During 2010 the council’s wage bill was reduced by over €10 million and staff numbers fell by 201.”

“My question is to what extent this reduction represents straightforward cutbacks rather than genuine savings due to improved efficiency. This would only be known if the report detailed the impact of these measures on council services - which it does not.”

“I would also be wary that the council could be engaged in false economies. To what extent is the work of council staff being replaced by that of outside contractors, for example? What is the social cost of delays in basic housing maintenance or housing families in need? I believe there is a need to read through the lines of this report rather than simply accepting it at face value.”

For further information or comment contact Cllr Thomas Gould @ 087-3021551