Fear for local motor tax office

DUBLIN
City Council has refused to comment on concerns over the future of a Northside
motor tax office.

Fianna
Fáil councillor Paul McAuliffe has sought assurances from city council
officials that the Ballymun motor taxation office will remain open for
business.

This
follows the local authority’s recent decision to close the motor tax office at
Nutgrove Shopping Centre in Rathfarnham at the end of this year.

A
circular sent by council management to city councillors stated that the
decision

“to rationalise the number of motor tax offices in the Dublin area

?
was taken in July by the Independent Review Group on Dublin City Council
staffing.

The
decision was made as part of the Croke Park Agreement to reduce expenditure in
the public service. The circular said it was made with the

“clear objective of
service cost reduction

?.

The
city council currently operates four motor tax offices in Dublin. The centres
are located in Ballymun, Clondalkin, Nutgrove and Smithfield, Dublin 7.


The
memo to councillors also stated that the rationalisation plan would not involve
the loss of any jobs. The note stated that the closure of the Nutgrove office,
which is scheduled for December 31, would involve the current complement of
staff operating from three offices instead of the current four.

In
addition, questions have been raised about the level of savings that are likely
to be achieved by the closure of the motor tax office in light of the fact that
the existing lease on the building where the Nutgrove office is located does
not expire until 2020.

Cllr
McAuliffe pointed out that the motor tax office in his area is a key tenant in
the new Ballymun Civic Office buildings. He said if the office closed, this
would undermine the regeneration project in the area, which the council is
sponsoring.

“The
office serves all the north Dublin suburbs and is part of the city council’s
plans to bring services closer to the community,” he said.

“With
the increase in online applications there will inevitably be less need for
regional offices. However, there will always be a need to deal with those
people who are not familiar with the internet and who may have literacy
difficulties.

“As
a member of the city council I also believe we must prioritise those offices
which are located within the city council area.

?

Cllr
McAuliffe also expressed concern that the circular stated that the review group
in the council agreed that the rationalisation of the motor tax offices in the
Dublin area should be

“accelerated

?.

A
spokesman for Dublin City Council declined to specifically comment on the
future of the Ballymun motor tax office. However, he said the local authority
would commence consultations with staff and unions to

“rationalise the motor
tax offices at Smithfield, Ballymun, Nutgrove and Clondalkin

?.

“This
consultation period will take approximately six weeks,

? he added.

“Dublin
City Council is not in a position to disclose details of the consultation at
this juncture, prior to the discussions reaching a conclusion.

?