Council Continues to Make Savings and Increase Efficiency


Fingal County Council’s budget for providing day to day services has reduced significantly from ¤257m in 2009 to an estimated ¤222m in 2012. The actual spending in 2012 is likely to be less than this.


At a time when local government staff numbers have been reduced by more than 8,000 Fingal County Council has also lost 250 staff through retirements or termination of contracts. This reality has meant that significant savings and changes have been necessary and these have been delivered in Fingal. With ¤830m in savings expected to be achieved nationally by the local government sector since 2008, Fingal County Council has achieved significant savings through a combination of restructuring, changed work practices and better procurement. Substantial payroll cost reductions, including significant reductions in overtime have also


been achieved since 2008. Recognising the difficulties faced by businesses the overall rates charged to businesses have also been reduced by 13.9% since 2010.


Fingal County Council is now leading shared services projects in a number of areas including Human Resources, Information Technology and an Integrated Enforcement Model to help Local Government to become more efficient. Our success to date in delivering savings and efficiencies has been achieved by our staff, our unions and our management working together, taking difficult decisions and embracing change. This is an ongoing process and we will continue to implement the policies and changes necessary to deliver first class services at lowest cost.


REVENUE EXPENDITURE YEAR ON YEAR 2005 – 2012


2005


2006


2007


2008


2009


2010


2011


2012


Fingal Residents Continue to Register for Household Charge


At a time when both Local Government funding and household budgets are under unprecedented pressure, ¤5.7m has been received to date from 55,400 households across Fingal as payment for the Household Charge introduced at the beginning of 2012.


This means nearly 2 out of every 3 households that are liable have registered and paid the charge. The Household Charge goes directly towards funding essential local services including your parks and playing pitches, your libraries, your community centres, your fire and emergency services, your roads, street cleaning and lighting and your drinking water supply and wastewater treatment; services that benefit your entire community.


Funding from the Household Charge has become an important element of the Local Government Fund allocation to Fingal County Council in 2012. Non payment of the household charge by some homeowners in Fingal has resulted in some of the Local


Government Fund Allocation that we get from Central Government being held back. Already over ¤0.5m has been withheld and a further ¤1.5m could be withheld unless compliance levels with household charge payments improves significantly.


We would urge any homeowners who have not paid the charge to date, for whatever reason, to pay it as soon as possible. By doing so, further late payment fees and penalties will be avoided, and importantly, a valuable contribution will be made to providing your local services. Payment of the charge and all penalties due can be made online at www.householdcharge.ie, by posting an application form to PO Box 12168, Dublin 1 or at Fingal County Hall Swords or Council offices at Grove Road, Blanchardstown.


For further information on waivers and exemptions and FAQs log on to www.householdcharge.ie or LoCall 1 890 357357.


€193.3 m €214.5 m €230.2 m €257.4 m €270.3 m €252.8 m €249.0 m €221.6 m


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