Council Manager (Ireland)

Council Manager (Ireland)

In local government in the Republic of Ireland, the Council Manager is the chief executive of the local authority of a county or city. Whereas the county council and city council are elected officials who formulate policy, the manager is an appointed official who manages the implementation of policy.

The County or City Manager performs the executive functions of the County or City Council. He or she supervises, co-ordinates, manages and pays the employees and officers of the Council. He or she also makes contracts on behalf of the Council and affixes the official seal of the Council on documents. The law in Ireland (Section 144 of the Local Government Act 2001) clearly states that 'For every county and city there shall be a manager to be known as "the ....... County Manager" or "the ....... City Manager"'. However, a recent report commissioned by the Government suggests reducing the number of county managers from 34 to 24.[1]

Contents

History

The first local authority in the then Irish Free State to have a manager was Cork city, under the Cork City Management Act, 1929.[2] This was extended to all councils by the County Management Act, 1940.[3] Initially, some smaller counties shared a manager. On several occasions, the Minister for the Environment has suspended a fractious elected council, leaving the manager to run its affairs until the next local elections.[4]

The current legislation governing County and City Managers is the Local Government Act 2001.[5]

Deputy manager

As well as the County or City Manager, some counties and cities also have Assistant/Deputy County or City Managers. After consultation with the Cathaoirleach (or Mayor) of the local authority, the County or City Manager may appoint a Deputy Manager to act on their behalf while they are on leave or absent. In situations where the post of Manager becomes vacant, Section 148 of the Local Government Act 2001 requires the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to appoint someone to the Manager's post temporarily. This temporary appointment will continue until a permanent appointment is made. It may however, be terminated at any time.

Rules

County or City Managers in Ireland are recruited through a competitive recruitment process organised by the Public Appointments Service. Once appointed, the County or City Manager will remain in office for a term of 7 years (although this can also be extended by an additional three years). The retirement age for County or City Managers is 65.

If a Council wishes to suspend or remove a County or City Manager, a resolution must be passed by the Council. At least two-thirds of the Councillors must vote for the resolution after 7 days notice. The Minister then sanctions the removal of the County or City Manager.

Delegation of manager's functions

It is normal practice in Ireland that the County or City Manager of a local authority will delegate some functions to other staff in the local authority. The elected county or city council must be notified of any delegated functions. However, the County or City Manager still remains responsible for the acts of the delegate and can take back (i.e., revoke) a responsibility that has been delegated. As the chief executive, the County or City Manager has the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the local authority operates smoothly and for carrying into effect policy decisions of the elected council.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0723/localgovernment.pdf
  2. ^ "Cork City Management Act, 1929". Irish Statute Book. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1929/en/act/pub/0001/print.html. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 
  3. ^ "County Management Act, 1940". Irish Statute Book. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1940/en/act/pub/0012/print.html. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 
  4. ^ Collins, Neil (1987). Local government managers at work: the city and county manager system of local government in the Republic of Ireland. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration. ISBN 0-906980-60-7. 
  5. ^ "Local Government Act, 2001". Irish Statute Book. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2001/en/act/pub/0037/print.html. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 

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