Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group

• Road Closures – Notice of Decision;
• Proposals under section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 (for example
for traffic calming);
• Part 8 projects;
• Notice of tenders;
• Material contravention of the development plan;
• Notice of draft development plan / area plans available for inspection;
• Proposals to change speed limits;
• Notice of opening of annual audit;
• Notice of date for holding of annual budget meeting;
• Notice of the making of the rate.
11.3.3 In other cases, such as the process for making compulsory purchase orders
(CPOs), not only do local authorities advertise such proposals, but they are
also obliged to contact every affected landowner and every occupier by
registered post.
11.3.4 While it is of course important to ensure public participation in local
decision-making, the Group is of the view that many of these requirements
belong to a bygone pre-Internet era, and could be adjusted in the light of
increased Internet access, not least through the local authority library
system. The Group considers that it is doubtful whether many people
actually take the trouble to trawl through such advertisements in
newspapers in any case, and that therefore this expenditure represents
poor value for money.
11.3.5 The Group suggests that a more fruitful approach to alerting the public and
encouraging greater online consultation would be for local authorities to
continue to advertise such notifications in newspapers, but to do so in
summary form, while providing a link to pages on the local authority’s
website where more detailed information can be accessed. Such webpages
could also provide links to email addresses where the views of individuals
could be relayed. This would considerably reduce the advertising space
that local authorities would need to buy in order to comply with the rules
around placing public notifications in newspaper. Such a change in the
rules around notifications should be provided for through amendments to
the relevant legislative provisions.
11.3.6 Through such change it should be possible to at least reduce local authority
advertising budgets by over 50%, yielding a targeted saving of some €3.9
million per annum.
11.4 Use of Professional Consultants
11.4.1 The Group noted the increased expenditure by local authorities in recent
years on professional fees and payments made to consultants in various
service areas, such as housing, planning, roads, water services, waste
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