|
|
Axe hangs over Carn Council HQ
28.06.10
|
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
There are fears for the long-term future of services
at Carndonagh Public Services Centre amid growing
concern that some key departments will be axed.
The Inishowen Independent has learned that vital
sections including planning, community and
enterprise are set to revert back to Lifford as part
of a county wide cost cutting measure.
There is mounting concern among a cross section of
local councillors, who fear that the decision to
downgrade the Carn local authority centre is well
advanced.
The modern Malin Road headquarters, which also
includes a motor tax division and library, has been
a jewel in the crown of local government here for
much of the last decade.
The battle is now on to retain all services and
ensure that no further jobs are lost. |
 |
Local Labour councillor
Martin Farren said he is making it his number one
priority to maintain the services at the Carn public
centre.
“It is my duty to ensure what we have, we hold. Each
of the services we have in Carn must stay in Carn.
We fought hard to get them here and I intend to make
sure they remain,” he said.
Farren, who tabled a motion on the issue at the last
Inishowen Electoral Area meeting, said it would be a
retrograde step for Inishowen if some services were
centralised back to Lifford. |
“If that were to happen
it would be a major step backwards for Inishowen.
The staff at the public office in Carn provide an
excellent service and we must ensure that they are
allowed to continue to do that.”
‘We’re very fortunate in Inishowen to have an
impressive public centre and the people here deserve
it. I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the new
County Manager on this important issue,” Farren
added.
Echoing Cllr. Farren’s calls, new Mayor of Buncrana
Padraig MacLochlainn said he feared any downgrading
of the Carn offices would be the beginning of a
‘slippery slope’.
“Donegal was one of the counties to lead the way for
decentralisation and it has been a major success
story. We expect services in Inishowen, which we
campaigned for, to be retained. There have already
been 380 staff let go in Donegal County Council and
we can’t afford any more,” he said.
“If the County Manager thinks we’re going to give
him cover to cut services in Carn he is very much
mistaken. I am totally resisting any moves to
relocate services away from Carn, which would be the
beginning of a slippery slope.”
Donegal Deputy Mayor Charlie McConalogue said the
proposed move did not make sense.
“A lot of money has been spent developing the public
service centre in Carn and in decentralising
services to Inishowen. It doesn’t make any sense to
centralise these vital functions back to Lifford.
All services in Carn must be retained,” he said. A
spokesperson for Donegal County Council was
unavailable for comment. |
|
