Dún Laoghaire council 'must save €5.9m'

DÚN LAOGHAIRE Rathdown County Council will need to find savings of €5.9 million in its 2009 budget, councillors were told last night.

Restrictions on capital expenditure imposed by the Government also mean the council will have to shelve at least €30 million in capital projects planned for this year.

Recruitment restrictions will have “serious adverse consequences” for capital projects and services, councillors were told.

In grim reports presented last night, councillors were told reductions in the local Government fund in refuse charges, housing rents and other incomes, coupled with expected increases in bad debts from commercial rates and water charges, would result in a need to find savings of €5.9 million.

Head of finance Michael Hogan said adjustment to an already constrained budget would have an impact on the range and quality of services that could be delivered.

Some of the savings would have implications for staff, he said, adding that he would report back at the next meeting with details.

Councillors also heard that a Government circular to all local authorities imposed limitations of €200 million on capital expenditure. County manager Owen Keegan said the potential implications for the council’s capital programme were serious. Projects worth €30 million due to be started this year would not proceed.

A further Government circular, sent on March 27th, said no local authority posts could be filled.

Mr Keegan said the provisions would undermine the council’s capacity to provide services: “It would appear . . . that new staff cannot be engaged and existing temporary staff must be let go in the order in which contracts come up for renewal without any regards to the impact on service provision.”