A Laois County Councillor has hit out of the Council’s recruitment process as he called for two more outdoor staff to be hired.
Independent Cllr Ben Brennan requested that two more outdoor staff for the Graiguecullen area be recruited.
He said: “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.”
Senior Engineer Paul McLoughlin respondedL “Laois Council County are currently in the process of recruiting staff for our works and maintenance crews with interviews to held in the coming weeks.
“Positions in the Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal will be filled at the earliest opportunity from the panel when formed.”
Cllr Brennan was unhappy with this reply. He said: “I cannot understand how we have to go off and get another panel.
“What happened to the last panel? This is simply kicking the can down the road.
“Our staff are top class but they have so much work to do that it is impossible to cover it all.
“When we bring in contractors, they are getting away with murder. We have to constantly keep going back after them to get jobs done correctly.
“The longer the situation of us not having enough staff, the handier it is for these jobs to be outsourced and that is not a good thing.”
In response, Council officials suggested that the process of filling a panel doesn’t take as long as Cllr Brennan was suggesting.
However, Independent Councillor Aisling Moran backed up what Cllr Brennan was saying.
She said: “Some people go on maternity leave and the baby will have a beard but their position still won’t be filled.
“I want to support Ben on this. The outdoor staff do so much work and should be supported.”
Councillor Brennan also put in a request that Laois County Council give an update on the taking in charge of road in Farnans.
Brennan received a response from Paul McLoughlin Senior Engineer.
He said: “The Municipal District Office have assessed the request and prepared a report recommending that the process for the declaration of a public road commence with the publication of the prescribed notice in the local paper.”
Finally, Cllr Brennan requested that Laois County Council examine the flooding issue outside the house in Aghaterry as the road is deteriorating.
Senior Engineer Philip McVeigh responded to Brennan: “Laois County Council will arrange for drainage improvement works to be carried out at this location in the coming weeks.”
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