Staff shortages force council to close Crumlin public counter

By Maurice Garvey

DUBLIN City Council must “fight hard” to keep the Crumlin area office open to the public, according to Independents 4 Change Councillor Pat Dunne.

Councillors passed a motion at the recent Dublin South Central area meeting, expressing dismay at the closure of the Crumlin office public counter.

While Dublin City Council says the office is not officially closed, the public counter is closed.

Members of the public have to travel to other local offices or call the local authority in order to discuss issues with a council representative.

Area Manager Peter Finnegan said it was ultimately a “resources issue”.

Of the four recent staff members in the Crumlin office, one requested a transfer, one retired, another is on maternity leave, and the remaining staff member “got a promotion and moved on as a housing advisor.”

“I will not operate an office with one staff member,” said Mr Finnegan.

“I will not be able to operate a public counter with two staff members. I may get close to it with three, but the whole timing of it with holidays and anything else, makes it difficult.”

Cllr Dunne, who has campaigned on the issue for months, said it was “factually incorrect to state the Crumlin office remains open” and called for the immediate re-opening of the office.

He feels recent boundary changes tying the South Inner City ward with Crumlin, accelerated the decline of the Crumlin office, with Marrowbone Lane the primary public point of contact for residents in the constituency.

Cllr Dunne said: “The Crumlin area office was never a satellite office. It is an office in its own right. Crumlin has been pushed to one side for no good reason. Every effort should be made to keep it open.”

Cllr Dunne has written to the city council CEO on the matter, acknowledged by Mr Finnegan as the appropriate channel.

Cllr Daithí Doolan said constituents have come to the Ballyfermot office because they couldn’t get a service in Crumlin, and called for the service to remain “open Monday to Friday.”

Councillors agreed to submit an emergency motion in April, calling on CEO and Assistant CEO to staff the Crumlin office.