South Dublin County Council takes major awards at the Chambers Ireland - Excellence in Local Government Awards

Chambers Ireland has named South Dublin County Council Local Authority of the Year 2006 at its annual Excellence in Local Government Awards for its innovative approach to economic and social development in the county using innovation and technology to ensure that challenges are overcome.

The awards were presented at a ceremony in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on 9^th November in association with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

South Dublin County Council also won awards in three specialist categories:

Social and Community Development for its Traveller Training Employment Programme - Removing the Margins, providing new opportunities to a marginalized community and assisting participants to realize their own potential and gain employment

Environment for its energy efficiency project benefiting residents, the County Council and the environment

Best Planning Service for its efficient, transparent and inclusive planning service systems, serving the needs of individual customers and the community.

The Council also received commendations in two further categories:

Customer Service for the affordable Housing initiative (Property Path), developing new approaches to encourage purchasers,      to ensure widespread understanding of the affordable concept and to create ease of access for customers to a new housing option.

Technology for the ANPR/ITISS (Intermodal Traveller Information System utilizing Automatic Number Plate Recognition) providing much-needed traffic and travel information in a readily accessible manner to consumers.

This is the third year of Chamber Irelands awards in association with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.  The awards aim to acknowledge and encourage innovation and best practice among Irelands local authorities. 

South Dublin County Manager Joe Horan expressed his delight at the Council taking four awards (including the overall award) and commendations for being short listed in two further categories out of a total of eleven categories. When staff go the extra mile in providing innovative and excellent service it is vitally important that this is recognized and acknowledged. All staff are to be congratulated on their efforts which led to these prestigious awards.

Mayor of South Dublin County, Councillor Eamon Maloney who accepted the overall award on the night was also extremely pleased at the outcome. After four and a half months of my term of office as Mayor of the county, I am in a unique position to appreciate the tremendous work rate, dedication and innovation of both staff and members of this Council in tackling the challenges with which we are faced in the interests of the communities which we serve.. I am very proud of our achievements and see these awards as important recognition of our work