Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group

• The online Roadworks Control system provides a standardised
approach to the processing and licensing of applications (mainly from
utilities) to local authorities to perform road openings. This should
result in significant reduction in public liability claims, a reduction in
staff time spent on applications and a valuable opportunity for
increased and more targeted inspections during road openings and
reinstatement
• EDEN is a centralised information exchange for environmental
monitoring data, it provides bodies using the system (local authorities
as well as organisations such as the EPA, the Department of the
Environment, Heritage and Local Government) with the ability to
submit environmental data remotely and to exchange this data with all
parties authorised for environmental monitoring. It has greatly reduced
overall costs in data exchange and has facilitated seamless application
of environmental data standards across a broader spectrum of
environmental monitoring requirements;
• eReturns is an Internet system that captures performance indicator
data, such as local authority service indicators, in an efficient and userfriendly
manner;
• A back office housing system, iHouse, is in place for the management
of Social Housing and all associated business processes. There are
now 30 sites using iHouse which is used for the management of Local
Authority Housing Property. This system also feeds into the eReturns
Housing Needs Assessment and Rental Assessment scheme.
11.2.5 The Group recommends that the development of online services be
intensified both to improve efficiencies and service provision to the public.
The Group is also recommending that local authorities build on this
experience to further develop a shared service approach towards ICT. This
area is addressed in more detail in section 8.4. The Group is furthermore
suggesting that the bodies to which local authorities report ensure that their
IT systems can receive returns from local authorities electronically (see
section 8.7).
11.3 Advertising
11.3.1 Local authorities are obliged to take out advertisements on a regular basis
in newspapers and other outlets in accordance with statutory requirements
in various legislative Acts. Research carried out for the Group indicated that
the amount spent on advertising amounted to some €7.3 million in 2009.
Typically, this advertising takes the form of notifications alerting members of
the public that a certain draft policy such as the development plan is
available for inspection, or that views are being invited as part of a
consultation process in advance of a decision being taken.
11.3.2 Some examples of where local authorities have to undertake such
advertising include:
• Road Closures – Notice of Intention;
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