Siptu warns of cuts impact on local services

Siptu has called on the Government to carefully consider the impact of potential redundancies in the public sector on essential services before putting any cost cutting plan into action.

The union reiterated its opposition to redundancies, but said if the Government pressed ahead with the job cuts, careful consideration would be needed to ensure that services were not adversely affected.

Local authority professional officers branch organiser Maurice Hearne urged the Government not to make any hasty decisions that could lead to the same "costly blunders" seen in the 1980s.

"It would be crazy to cut jobs in the fire or water services, but where do the cuts come from?" he said. "Even if you take a relatively soft target, such as public parks - do we shut the parks? Do we stop maintaining them?" he said. "A lot of thought is needed in terms of the impact on the public."

The union said professional staff that were let go in the 1980s were subsequently rehired as private consultants at a higher cost, while essential services were undermined.

"If this is Government policy, they need to say it will result in service cuts, which ones, and why," he said.

Mr Hearne warned that any cuts in this sector may not result in the savings needed by the Government. He said the union was opposed to cuts in expenditure, and supported boosting spending in times of recession to help stimulate the economy.

"We take issue with the fact that there is such a strong focus on the public sector. We don't believe there is a burgeoning public sector to cut back that is riddled with inefficiencies. The vast majority of people in the local authority branch are engaged in services that are essential."