Council ‘can’t cope with workload’ since hiring ban

Cork County Council has lost nearly a third of its staff since a recruitment embargo was imposed on local authorities, and fears have been expressed that its number of outdoor staff has fallen to such a critically-low level they’re incapable of dealing with their huge workload.

Figures released by the council yesterday show it had 17 senior managers in 2008, but now has nine (47%). Its clerical/administration staff have fallen by 27% from 956 to 694, while its professional/technical staff numbers were hit even harder with a 37% cut from 586 to 369.

Outdoor staff, who maintain roads, amenity areas etc, have suffered with a 32% cut. Their numbers have fallen during this timeframe from 1,285 to 878. Because they work in all kinds of weather, they have high sickness rates as well, which can exacerbate the situation.