Clashes over council staffing levels
Chief executive of Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly, hit back at claims he is trying to run down the local authority.
The chief executive of Mayo County Council has denied there is any attempt to "do down" the local authority.
Kevin Kelly made the comments during a heated discussion with councillors at last week's meeting about staffing levels in the local authority.
Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn asserted that staffing numbers in the council are dropping. He asked Mr Kelly if there are staffing targets or efficiencies he is trying to achieve. Cllr Flynn claimed that Mr Kelly expressed surprise at the high number of staff on Mayo County Council compared to Galway County Council - where he had previously worked - when he took the job.
“It looks like you have been brought in to wind down the county,” Cllr Flynn remarked.
The comments were fiercely contested by the chief executive.
“That is not the case. Our policy is to replace every vacancy that arises,” said Mr Kelly, adding that staffing levels have increased by 55 people in recent times.
Mr Kelly said staff will continue to be taken on as long as finances allow.
“We’re filling all the vacancies. The recruitment unit is flat out. There is no ‘do down’ of Mayo County Council,” Mr Kelly added.
There are currently more than 40 staff vacancies, which the council says represents a fraction of its total workforce.
