This article is from page 13 of the 2006-03-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
CLARE County Council’s wage bill has increased by 30 per cent over the past five years, with the local authority’s overtime bill just under €9.5 million in that period.
Figures released through the Freedom of Information Act show that the council last year paid out €1.88 million on overtime – slightly less than the €1.884 million spent on overtime in 2004.
The council’s wage bill increased from €25 million in 2001 to €32.8 million in 2005.
The council employed 775 people in 2001, increasing to 1040 in 2004 before going back down to 2005 in 998.
Figures separately supplied by the Department of the Environment show that the council last year collected €26 million in funding from the county’s rate-payers, up €6 million on the €20 million in rates paid in 2000. In response to the figures, independent councillor, Patricia McCarthy said, “I would be concerned that so much is being spent on wages that there is little left for services.
“It is quite obvious that benchmarking pay awards and the Better Local Government reforms are having an impact on the council’s annual wage bill and management need to be mindful of the costs.
“In spite of what the Government states, the funding it is allocating towards local authorities is not enough for the services that local authorities provide.”
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said the wages rise was as result of the benchmarking pay-increases from central Government.
“This represents a significant challenge to the council as no additional money from central Government has been provided. This undermines the efficiency of the council with a sucking by stealth of funds from the council. This has to stop and councillors are going to have to take a very strong line”.
CEO of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce, Rita McInerney said that members were concerned that the increased costs had not come with increased services to business.
“This is very true in the area of planning where members have huge problems. The pre-planning meetings should be minuted to ensure that any new planner coming in is aware of the council’s view on any application. The council’s activities should be subject to detailed Value for Money audits.
“With greater costs, there should be greater output and greater delivery of services”.