THE FINANCIAL crisis will have cost Wexford County Council 100 employees in the 18 months to the end of this year, county manager Eddie Breen has confirmed.
Mr Breen said the council is trying to to curb its overtime bill for this year in an attempt to minimise the number of ongoing job losses.
Mr Breen said the overtime bill of just under €3 million so far this year – all spent on outdoor staff – comprises eight per cent of the council’s total payroll, which is the “industry norm”. He admitted this “has to be cut back. . . if we are to retain permanent jobs in other areas. We’ve reduced our indoor staff by just over 90, but that will be close to 100 by the end of the year.”