Director's Annual Report 2010 - Laois education Centre

Laois County Council for permission to increase the number of bays which was submitted in December
2010. Funding for the development of the car park was sought under the Emergency Works Scheme
from the Building Unit of the Department of Education and Skills, but was refused. A funding
application has since been submitted under the Summer Works Scheme 2011 and a response is awaited.
We are also awaiting the outcome of the planning application from Laois County Council.
With health, safety and security in mind we continued the work commenced in 2009 by changing locks
in the Centre to thumb nail locks. This work is now complete.
Storage continued to be a problem in 2010 and with this in mind Management agreed to have the
storage shed insulated to a level where it would be suitable to store materials and resources. This work
was completed during the first term and has proved successful.
This year saw increasing demands from external groups wishing to use the Centre and on a number of
occasions we have been contacted by groups on behalf of FÁS looking for long term bookings. With this
in mind we are looking at developing the former ICT Office as a second ICT room.
FINANCIAL ISSUES AND COST-SAVING MEASURES
Cost-saving measures have remained a priority for the Centre in 2010. Cost-cutting measures have been
put in place where possible. In addition to the already considerable savings made in 2009 it was
deemed necessary to further cut Centre expenditure. Management found themselves in a position
where they had to examine Staff Payroll and explore areas where savings could be made in the fairest
possible way to staff but yet keep the Centre running efficiently. Management made the decision to
put staff on a 4 day week for 3 months in March, April and May, then a 3 day week for a further three
months, June, July and August. All Staff went back on a 4 day week in September and remained on a 4
day week to the year end. Management decided that all staff would return to a 5 day week in January
2011.
Main areas where savings were made in 2010 were:
Staff wages
Cleaning , Caretaking and Premises Maintenance
Consultancy and Audit Fees
Light, Heat and Phone
Insurance
Postage
Office Supplies
ICT Maintenance Contract
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