Council staffing squeeze bites in Duleek

The squeeze on staffing levels in Meath County Council will not improve anytime soon, members of the Slane Electoral Area Committee of the council have been told. The issue was raised by Cllr Jimmy Cudden last week who said that the existing situation was not fair to the staff at the Duleek area office. Staff numbers had been cut following the transfer of planning functions to the council headquarters in Navan. 'The situation here is just not fair to the staff. This was the first area office to be built and it was the pride of the county for the service it gave. 'There is nobody to answer the phone here now because the staff are too busy. We just have to replace the staff who have left here,' he said. Area manager Tadhg McDonnell said that there was little that could be done because of a recent directive from the Department of the Environment which had ordered cuts of three per cent in payroll costs. 'In fact, it is closer to five per cent,' he said. 'You have to do all you have to do with a payroll reduction of three per cent.' Cllr Cudden said: 'All joking aside, you"d be better off closing this office. At one stage, people came here and said it was the best thing that had ever happened. 'The fact is it is impossible for people trying to cope. It is just not fair. We don"t deserve what is happening here.' Cllr Ann Dillon Gallagher said: 'It looks as if it is put-the-boot-in time.' Cllr Cudden: 'The staff here have a reputation of being very helpful and courteous. But it is not fair that you have to do someone else"s work as well as your own.' Mr McDonnell said that the office was under pressure 'because you"re robbing Peter to pay Paul'.