Leitrim Co. Co. records significant savings

Added: 03-08-2012

Leitrim County Council has reduced its staffing numbers by 27% over the period between 2008 and 2012 with substantial associated payroll savings.

The Council has also delivered additional savings of almost €4m since 1st January 2009.

County Manager, Jackie Maguire has outlined these savings have been generated through other payroll reductions associated with the non-replacement of various forms of leave and overtime savings; administrative efficiency savings through various procurement initiatives, re-organisations and shared services and costs avoided through non replacement of maternity leave etc.

However given the impact of reductions in the Local Government Fund and other funding and income streams, the sustainment of front line services at the same levels as heretofore remains a very significant challenge for Leitrim County Council over the next number of years.

The report of the Local Government Efficiency Review (LGER) Implementation Group published on Wednesday shows that €830m in financial savings have already been delivered at local government level between 2008 and 2012, through efficiency gains and reductions in expenditure and staff numbers, while a further €195m is targeted over the next 18 months.