Mayo council chief told to address staffing levels or face motion of no confidence
THE chief executive of Mayo County Council has been told to address staffing numbers in Castlebar Municipal District (MD) or face a motion of no confidence.
Elected members weren't pleased to hear how far they are behind the Ballina MD in terms of employee numbers.
Ballina MD had 87 employees - Castlebar's stands at 57, Councillor Harry Barrett revealed during a debate on staffing levels.
The figures he received showed Claremorris-Swinford MD has 102 workers, with 105 in the Westport-Belmullet MD.
“Why are we bottom of the pile?” he asked at the monthly district meeting, highlighting the pressure existing staff are under due to shortage in personnel.
Councillor Al McDonnell said they had lost 12 outdoor staff and they need to be replaced as quickly as possible so works can get done.
The cathaoirleach, Councillor Donna Sheridan, received unanimous support when she demanded the council's chief executive takes action to rectify the MD's staffing levels before their next meeting. If not they would be putting a motion of no confidence in the chief executive down for the full meeting of Mayo County Council in May.
Their staff levels were 'extremely concerning', said Councillor Sheridan, with them only having half of what was allocated to Ballina MD.
In a statement since the meeting, Councillor Barrett said: "Castlebar is the county town, yet we have been short-changed on staff numbers, leaving our roads, housing and vital infrastructure struggling due to chronic under-resourcing. How can we expect to deliver quality services when we have nearly half the workforce of other districts?"
He demanded an immediate increase in staffing levels to bring Castlebar in line with the rest of Mayo.
"Our local roads need repairs, our housing department is stretched beyond limits, and our engineering services are under pressure. The people of Castlebar deserve better. I am calling on Mayo County Council to rectify this staffing crisis as a matter of urgency.
"We cannot allow Castlebar to be treated as an afterthought any longer. I will not let this issue rest until action is taken."