County manager says changes under Croke Park 'disappointing'

The Minister for the Environment has said that, while a solid start has been made, implementation of the Croke Park agreement…

The Minister for the Environment has said that, while a solid start has been made, implementation of the Croke Park agreement needs to be approached with greater urgency. Phil Hogan was responding to criticism of the deal voiced yesterday by the county manager of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Owen Keegan, who said it had failed to deliver necessary changes.

Mr Keegan is the first senior public service manager to question publicly whether the Croke Park agreement is delivering on its objectives. On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he described his experience of trying to bring about change under the deal as “very disappointing”.

Mr Keegan cited the failure of moves by county managers to reduce leave levels for staff.