Unofficial figures for the number of outgoing local authority members who availed of the Department of Environment scrappage scheme show a much lower take-up than had been expected. Originally nearly 80 per cent of all councillors applied for early retirement and the redundancy package, but many did so as a hedge against failure to be selected, and withdrew their application before the cut-off date last month.
Late last year the party bosses were hopeful that after eight years in office most of the oldtimers would step aside and let in fresh faces, but several factors conspired against this scenario. Not least was the parties' fear of failing to win enough seats to sustain a general election push in the next couple of years. Consequently they ran big names, who may or may not stand down in time.
Normally 20 per cent of outgoing councillors don't seek reelection and late last year the Minister for the Environment, Noel Dempsey told Quidnunc that because of the scrappage he reckoned that this time 40 per cent (rather than the 80 per cent who applied), would step down. Formal returns are not due in from the 88 local authorities until July 2nd, but initial estimates in the Department show that only 25 per cent are retiring, that is 410 out of the 1,477 who made eligible applications.
Minister Dempsey says he is "quite pleased" with the takeup.
Paying scrappage to the 25 per cent, which includes those who retired early and the families of those who died in the last eight years, will cost the State £4.96 million. Councillors who opted for the scrappage scheme will receive £750 per year for up to 20 years' service and £500 for each extra year. Some will receive the maximum of £25,000 but the average will be about £12,000.