Cllr Noel McCarthy presses the case for Fermoy Town Hall to be new municipal authority HQ

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Cllr Noel McCarthy presses the case for Fermoy Town Hall to be new municipal authority HQ

Local councillor Noel McCarthy this week pressed the case for Fermoy Town Hall to become the headquarters of the new municipal district.

Thursday, 31 October 2013
9:15 AM GMT



Local councillor Noel McCarthy this week pressed the case for Fermoy Town Hall to become the headquarters of the new municipal district when local government reforms kick in next year and the town council is abolished. 

He had a motion to that effect before the monthly meeting of Cork County Council on Monday. He pointed out the benefits of such a move, saying Fermoy is the biggest town in the new electoral area, is located centrally which would suit meetings and already has county council offices in situ as well as engineering, administrative and other staff.

A number of services are already provided there such as rates and rent collection, housing applications and repairs, planning services, parking, payroll and payments and customer service.

Saying that the building, which only opened in 2007, was constructed at a cost of €7.2M split with the Courts Service who share space there, Cllr McCarthy said it made complete sense. With a reduced number of court sittings now, even more space is available to them, he said. Existing staff are vastly experienced, with up to 30 years services, he further explained.

"Uncertainty over their future is a big concern for them.They are anxious and worried," he said, adding that Mitchelstown and Charleville could be retained as sub-offices.

County manager Martin Riordan, asked him to hold off on his motion until after the county council's November development meeting, at which time they'd have a clearer picture of what's going to happen. Cllr McCarthy agreed, saying he looked forward to the county manager coming back to him on the matter.



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