Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group

likely to apply in cases where the level of investment requires a wholeof-sector
approach, or the initiative cannot proceed without the
participation of a considerable number of public bodies and local
authorities. As noted above, the Local Government Act 2001 allows
the Minister to direct local authorities or a public body to enter into an
agreement with another local authority to provide a specific function on
its behalf.
8.8.2 Each of these strategies are relevant to different service areas. Where
necessary, however, the powers of the Minister should be used to direct
local authorities to participate in shared service initiatives.
Recommendations:
8.9.1 Thus the Group recommends that:
• A uniform human resource and payroll system be implemented for
local authorities;
• All local government recruitment and promotion for clerical,
administrative, and professional staff be conducted through the Public
Appointments Service;
• The business case for a shared service approach between local
authorities be evaluated in the fields of fire services, homelessness,
building inspection, internal audit, motor tax, and e-Government
initiatives, either on a regional basis or on a lead authority model,
having regard to timescale, service improvements and anticipated cost
savings, as well as the proposed joint administrative areas;
• Single, national ICT applications with common business rules for all
local authorities be pursued wherever possible, as opposed to multiple
and duplicating local ICT applications;
• ICT infrastructure services across the sector be consolidated and
delivered as a shared service by the LGMA or ‘lead authorities’ ;
• The ICT systems used by local authorities and those bodies to which
they report be made compatible;
• The Regional Design Office model be extended to other local authority
service areas, for example to the procurement, land acquisition, project
management through planning and construction, and asset
management of water and waste infrastructure and public lighting;
• Local authorities in specific regions be obliged to negotiate a
framework agreement for the region every 5 years, which would
include assessments of shared service opportunities, and to
encourage attention to regional policy issues that transcend local
boundaries.
8.9.2 The total value of the immediate savings and extra charges identified from
shared human resource and payroll systems is €3 million in a full year.
Future savings in this area are more likely to be realised in the medium
rather than the short term. The opportunity can exist for shared services to
deliver non-financial as well as sizeable financial benefits, for example by
improving the quality of the service provided to the public. The
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