Call for end to 'penny-pinching' system in Mayo

A senior official at Mayo County Council has defended the local authority's current procurement process.

Director of Services Tom Gilligan was speaking at last week’s meeting of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District in response to concerns raised by Sinn Féin Cllr Gerry Murray.

Cllr Murray called for a “regime change” in the procurement process used by the council. He said the current system by which a tender contract is offered publicly was introduced in the early 2010s but now small jobs are falling by the wayside and the tendering system is no longer viable. The council must seek multiple quotations before progressing with any work.

“It is frustrating that the smallest jobs can’t be done, jobs that don’t warrant going to tender,” he said. “It is a fiscal straitjacket. It was okay in 2010 and 2011 when we had to be penny-pinching but not now."

Cllr Murray said there is now an over-reliance on private contractors and that the local authority needs more maintenance staff to do basic works on its stock of houses. Cllr Murray added that the council takes in revenue of around €6.5 million a year from council tenants, but it is not meeting the tenants' needs.

However, Mr Gilligan said he disagreed with Cllr Murray’s comments on the procurement process.

“The procurement process we use is for cost-savings and to ensure we get value for money but also for transparency and compliance. This is taxpayer money and I am not in favour of dumbing down the process or relaxing any rules,” he said.