Recruitment ban has officially ended in Mayo

A TOTAL of 12 new general operatives have been appointed by Mayo County Council following a high profile recruitment campaign.

They have undergone training since the start of the new year and are now taking up duty.

The employees are assigned across the four municipal districts, with Ballina receiving six and Castlebar, Claremorris and West Mayo two each.

The news has been welcomed by Mayo Fine Gael Senatior Michelle Mulherin.

She stated: 'This good news arises from the government's partial lifting of the ban on public recruitment which in this case has allowed Mayo County Council's Workforce Plan to be approved by the Department of Community and Local Government.

“This is an issue I have pursued with Minister Simon Coveney and his predecessor and am delighted with these new appointments

'These general operatives are in effect the outdoor staff we see out and about on the ground and on the roads around the county doing essential council work like filling potholes.

“It is very welcome news as the number of general operatives in the employment of the council has been going down  since 2007/2008, the ban on recruitment in the public sector and budget cuts and, significantly, with no new recruits taken on in the nearly past 10 years.

“Without a doubt existing staff have endured additional pressures in their duties owing as a result of this.'