Confusion over proposal to cut 152 council jobs

Confusion over proposal to cut 152 council jobs


Trevor Quinn

Calls for a special meeting of Mayo County Council to discuss the proposal to shed 152 council jobs are growing louder.
The first came from Charlestown-based Sinn Fein councillor Gerry Murray, who is demanding clarification on the cuts, which first came to light last Tuesday, April 19.
Fianna FΡil councillor Damien Ryan is submitting a letter this afternoon to Caoitherleach Michael Burke also calling for a special meeting. The letter contains ten signatures, including those of Cllr Blackie Gavin, Cllr Rose Conway-Walsh, Cllr Michael McNamara, Cllr Richard Flynn and Cllr Murray.

Clarification Needed
Speaking to The Mayo News, Cllr Murray said that the proposed job losses need to be discussed. “We need to know the sectors in which these job losses are likely to occur, and whether there any way of avoiding them,” he said.
“In recent years there has been a large number of retirements, and due to the public service recruitment embargo, these people have not been replaced. It’s important that we seek the views of the executive on a number of areas in relation to this.”

Confusion
Cllr Murray is adamant that the proposed special meeting should be held as soon as possible. The future of the authority’s machinery yard is another issue which Cllr Murray says needs to be addressed. Plans to ‘downgrade’ the facility have been proposed, but it unclear whether the ensuing job losses would be included in the proposed figure of 152.  
Recent plans to downgrade the facility have been strongly opposed by a number of elected members in recent days after county engineer and director of capital services Joe Beirne admitted that the council is struggling to maintain services and jobs at the yard in Moneen, Castlebar.
Cllr Murray says, “If we relinquish our plant and machinery, we will be at the mercy of the private sector. We have a skeletal number of staff as it is. The task of even the most basic of requirements like filling a pothole will take an extremely long time to do.”

'Put up or shut up'
The strong lobbying position of Fine Gael (17 on the 32-seat council) is of paramount importance in addressing these matters. Cllr Murray is calling for a clear and concise consensus from the party representatives, which he says is long overdue. “We need some clarification of where Fine Gael are and what their plans are. It’s time for them to put up or shut up.”