“Fingal County Council have achieved savings of €16.5 million since the signing of the Croke Park Agreement,’ according to Fine Gael TD for Dublin North Alan Farrell, commenting on a report issued by Impact union groups who have published savings made by the local government agency from March 2009 until October 2011.
“Fingal County Council has created these significant savings through restructuring of various departments, as well as changes in the flexibility of working practices to retain services while staff numbers have significantly reduced.
“I commend the management, and particularly the staff of the council for the successful prioritisation and implementation of reform measures within this time frame, demonstrating the commitment of our local government to creating savings for the taxpayer.
“The saving of €16.5 million over a two year and a half year period without the need for involuntary staff cuts is a genuine example of the value of the Croke Park Agreement to the delivery of public service reform.
“Some cost saving mechanisms included; the reconfiguration of recycling centre operations, reduced overtime expenditure on direct labour, electronic instead of manual monitoring of drainage inspections, centralisation of fleet management and plant hire activities, non-filling of arising vacancies and cessation of temporary summer contracts, centralising the advertising procurement unit, reduction in consultancy and professional fees, and the restructuring and consolidation of various operations units.
“I expect that further amalgamations within Fingal County Council, as well as forthcoming reform of local government agencies nationwide, in conjunction with the Croke Park Agreement will continue to yield further savings and value for money for the taxpayer, ultimately reducing our expenditure and creating a more efficient means of providing local services.”