Call for extra council outdoor staff in Laois
The issue was raised at a recent council meeting
A councillor wanted to know when additional outdoor staff would be hired by Laois County Council.
Independent Cllr Ben Brennan asked “that Laois County Council recruit two more outdoor staff for the Graiguecullen area – this will help alleviate reliance on out-sourcing work to contractors and help maximise the continuing great work being carried out by the outdoor crew.”
His motion was seconded by Independent Cllr Aisling Moran at the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.
In a written response Senior Engineer, Paul McLoughlin said “Laois Council County are currently in the process of recruiting staff for our works and maintenance crews with interviews to be held in the coming weeks. Positions in the Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District will be filled at the earliest opportunity from the panel when formed.”
Cllr Brennan asked “had we not already a panel picked for that?”
He claimed the council were “kicking the can down the road again” in relation to hiring outdoor staff.
“The work that is being carried out by the council staff on the roads is brilliant,” said Cllr Brennan.
He wasn’t as keen on some of the contract staff and he said, “I can take you to places where they got away with murder.”
“Laois County Council staff, when they do something, it is done and it is done right,” he said.
He expressed concern that the hiring process would be drawn out and he insisted that workers were needed in the Graiguecullen area as soon as possible. He wanted to know what happened to the panel which had previously been formed.
Acting Director of Finance Julie Bergin explained that such panels only last for two years.
Cllr Brennan wanted an assurance that the council intended to hire two workers as he claimed that had been the plan when retired Director of Finance Gerry Murphy was in the job.
Cllr Moran said she wanted to support the motion. She said the outdoor staff were doing a huge amount of work. “It is not just on roads it is in other areas,” she said.
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Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins said the workload had increased for the staff and he asked how many were assigned to the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.
Ms Bergin said the council was looking at the situation across all of the districts.
Senior Executive Engineer, Philip McVeigh said there were 20 outdoor staff in the district.
Cllr Moran asked for details of how many staff were assigned to the other two municipal districts.