Performance of Kilkenny County Council put under the microscope - see findings!

Kilkenny County Council’s performance for 2024 has been described as “mixed, above the national average in some service areas,” following the publication of a new report from the National Oversight and Audit Committee (NOAC).

The findings were shared with councillors in a letter dated October 14, outlining the results of the Local Authority Performance Indicators Report 2024, which reviewed 46 indicators across key service areas including housing, roads, planning, waste, water, finance, and community services.

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NOAC’s report, published on September 30, found that Kilkenny performed strongly in collection rates for rents and housing loans, which continued to exceed the national average.

Collection rates for 2024 were 90% for rates, 95% for rent, and 90% for housing loans, compared to national averages of 90%, 88%, and 88% respectively.

A letter from Seamus Kavanagh, Acting Director of Corporate Services at Kilkenny County Council, commended staff for maintaining high standards despite limited financial resources.

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“The commitment of staff in achieving these high levels of collection must be recognised and acknowledged,” he wrote, adding that the local authority would continue to focus on reducing arrears during 2024 and 2025.

Kilkenny performed well in library and community services, with participation figures in line with, or slightly above, national trends.

Kilkenny’s workforce indicators mirrored national pressures on local government staffing.

The NOAC data indicates Kilkenny fell below national averages in certain environmental and waste management areas.

Kilkenny’s re-letting time for social housing units was also longer than the national average.

The council noted that performance in certain areas is influenced by local factors such as population diversity, geography, and available resources.

It also noted that improvement targets do not apply to demand-led services such as homelessness, where need fluctuates monthly.

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Despite these challenges, the council said it remains committed to providing a “high standard of service” and to maintaining continuous improvement across all departments.

Michael McCarthy, Chair of NOAC, said the data highlights the importance of continued focus on housing and service delivery.

“Local authorities play a crucial role in supporting communities around Ireland,” he said.

“Continued focus in this area will be essential to delivering the homes our communities need.”

The report is available through the NOAC website, with detailed tables showing Kilkenny’s comparative results in all 46 categories across housing, environment, finance, libraries, planning, and community services.

The report is expected to assist local authorities in policy and performance reviews for the coming year.

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