|
|
Award for Donegal County Council
02.11.09
A DONEGAL County
Council initiative offering advice on how to keep
homes warm in winter has won an Excellence in Local
Government Award. The accolade was awarded last week
at Chambers Ireland’s 6th annual awards in
association with the Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government.
Donegal Mayor, Cllr Brendan Byrne congratulated the
Council's Social Inclusion Unit on winning the
award. "The idea behind this project was a simple,
yet effective, one and involved working with a range
of organisations including the ESB to provide over
500 households in the county with information packs
including CFL light bulbs, information on energy
efficiency and keeping their houses warm during the
winter," said Cllr Byrne. |
 |
"The successful
implementation of this initiative was dependent on a
partnership structure and the adoption of a
collaborative approach involving some 11 agencies
along with a range of community and voluntary groups
throughout the county. Given the diverse range of
citizens affected by fuel poverty, the inter-agency
approach was fundamental |
to the successful
implementation of this project.”
Chambers Ireland chief executive, Ian Talbot,
congratulated the Donegal local authority and said
he hoped all councils would get more strategic
funding in the downturn. "We recognise the pressure
that is on the Local Government Fund and
Non-National Road Grant Fund, and we expect that the
Government can give Councils the potential to secure
their own future through broader-based local funding
arrangements. This, together with an ongoing push to
reduce costs, share services and consolidate, will
enable Councils to deliver excellent services at a
lower cost to all stakeholders.”
The awards were supported by a number of sponsors
including An Post, Boots and Energia and each winner
was presented with a specially-commissioned trophy
designed by Mullingar Crystal. |
|
