Mayo Chief Executive faces vote of no confidence over staffing numbers

Councillors in Castlebar have warned the Chief Executive of Mayo County Council that he faces a motion of no confidence if staffing levels in the town are not increased immediately.

The Castlebar Municipal District monthly meeting heard that there are only 57 staff members working in the municipal district compared to 105 in the Westport/Belmullet MD, 102 in the Claremorris/Swinford MD and 87 in the Ballina MD.

The revelation was met with anger from the Castlebar councillors and they all agreed to a motion proposed by the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Donna Sheridan that if immediate action was not taken a vote of no confidence will be brought against Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council and other senior council officials.

“It is absolutely disgraceful and we are not standing for it,” Cllr Sheridan said.

READ: HSE defend Mayo maternity service following seven still births in 2023

“I am at the stage now that if this is not dealt with before our next meeting I will be proposing a vote of no confidence in the senior management of this council who have left this district in this absolutely disgraceful situation. We are the county town and we are a huge district and left with half the staff of others. That is unforgivable and I hope you will support me that we will not have this moving forward.

“I don't want a plan, I want action and if nothing is done before our next meeting we will be putting forward a vote of no confidence from this district in the senior management of this council,” she said.

Her motion was supported by all of the councillors who were present and it was also agreed to bring the motion on behalf of the seven councillors to the next meeting of Mayo County Council.

The lack of staff in the county town and across the Castlebar Municipal District has been a bone of contention for some time among the councillors who say that essential work cannot be done.

Independent councillor Harry Barrett who revealed the number of workers in each municipal district told the meeting that he wants answers as to why there are so few workers in the Castlebar MD.

“I want to know why we are at the bottom of the pile and only have 57 workers in the entirety of the MD. Workers are stretched to capacity. They are short 12 people in the outdoor staff and the panel isn't in place to hire them. They are running around the area trying to get their jobs done and it is wrong. The word needs to go back to senior management that we are not happy and our jobs are not getting done. It is going on too long.

“I asked at a previous meeting for the Chief Executive to come in here and talk about our staffing levels and he hasn't appeared. He needs to appear at our next meeting to explain to us why there are 57 employees in the Castlebar Municipal District. Senior management has decimated staffing numbers in the Castlebar MD over the last 10 to 15 years. It is not good enough,” he told the meeting.