NEWS | Chamber
Streamline Local Authority administrations to yield substantial cost savings
CHAMBERS IRELAND’S Ratepayers and Local Government Policy believes that the adoption of an integrated approach to service delivery combined with ensuring sufficient scale of administrative oversight could deliver much needed savings for local authorities while also ensuring that front line services are maintained for all users. The recommendations were made in the organisation’s submission to the Local Government Efficiency Review Panel.
“Between 1997 and 2009, the numbers employed in senior level grades in the public service, including local authorities, increased by approximately 82 per cent,” said Hilary Haydon, Chair of the Council. “By streamlining local authority administrations, a significant number of management posts could be phased out yielding substantial cost savings. A case study for the streamlining of administrations in Limerick City and County alone indicates that savings in the region of €10 million per annum could be achieved.”
“Any move to reform local
authorities must examine the potential for amalgamating thematic areas of responsibility that would benefit from both economies of scale and a regional perspective in ensuring delivery and best practice. Administrative oversight can be achieved without affecting democratic oversight thereby ensuring
that elected representatives could remain in situ while administrations could be integrated to create a critical mass for populations over a fixed population (e.g. 200,000) to support services such as Public housing schemes; Investment in critical infrastructure; Environmental management; Regional planning; and regional transport networks.” “In streamlining management and administration of local authorities scarce resources can be prioritised for investment in essential services including water, road maintenance and parks,” Haydon said.
chambers Ireland launches Smarter Business guide to certificates of origin
CHAMBERS IRELAND’S INTERNATIONAL TRADE
SKILLNET has emphasised that export-led growth is the only sustainable route to secure long-term prosperity for Ireland’s economy. The comments were made at the launch of Exporting Internationally: A Smarter Business Guide to Certificates of Origin which was funded through the Training Networks Programme, from the National Training Fund through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. “The success of exporters is ever more essential for the Irish economy to grow and prosper in the current economic climate,” said Mary Meehan, International Trade Skillnet Network Manager at Chambers Ireland. “As a small open economy, our growth and well-being are heavily dependent on our trade performance. To date, Ireland has shown that we are well placed to ‘punch above our weight’ in international markets.”
“As one of the world’s leading exporters per capita, we must not become complacent about the challenges we all face from increased globalisation and international competition. However, given that Ireland’s exports only fell by 1 per cent in 2009, one of the most challenging years our economy has faced, and are forecasted to increase by 2 per cent this year, we are in a good position to continue to punch above our weight,” she said.
Hilary Haydon, Chair of Chambers Ireland’s Ratepayers and Local Government Council.
“It is against this backdrop that the International Trade Skillnet has launched this practical guide to understanding Certificates of Origin. It can help companies to better understand Certificates of Origin, why they are needed and the steps involved in the authentication process.”
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Postcodes system must be future proofed
CHAMBERS IRELAND’S Digital Policy Council has welcomed the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources’ (DCENR) invitation to tender on the implementation of the national postcodes system.“The introduction of a future proofed postcode system has the potential to benefit all service users by way of optimising direct mail service offerings, increasing mail volumes and supporting a viable universal postal service around the
10 InBusiness May 10
country,” said Claire Cunningham, Chair of the Digital Policy Council.
“To achieve this, the post code option specified must be based not only on today’s requirements but must also be flexible enough to meet future needs. This will assure higher quality and enable postal service operators to provide targeted and profiled service offerings that will underpin post and parcel volumes in Ireland.”
Claire Cunningham, Chair of Chambers Ireland’s Digital Policy Council.
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