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Tubbercurry One Stop Shop

The new One Stop Shop in Tubbercurry is proving to be a very popular facility with the people of South Sligo. The venture is the first of its kind by Sligo County Council, and represents a major investment by the Local Authority in this part of the county.

 The aim of the initiative is to deliver from one premises a co-ordinated range of Local Authority services. In addition to housing an area office for Sligo County Council, the one stop shop also hosts a Motor Taxation Office, Tubbercurry Branch Library, The Courts Service, the North Western Health Board, FAS and the Citizens Information Service. The facility also hosts council chamber and meeting rooms.

The two storey building is located on Humbert Street and covers over 500m2. A number of old houses were acquired for the development, and project Architects McCullough Mulvin were anxious that the village’s character and urban fabric of the street were preserved. Director of Services Dorothy Clarke said the facility was a significant undertaking by Sligo County Council, and predicted that it would prove very popular by the people of Tubbercurry and South Sligo.

- Tubbercurry Library

The location of a Motor Taxation Office in Tubbercurry will be particularly welcome. A survey undertaken in 2002 at Motor Tax headquarters in Cleveragh, Sligo, suggested that up to 30% of all its customers would avail of the new office.

One service that has certainly ‘hit the ground running’ is the new Tubbercurry Branch Library. Executive Librarian Pauline Brennan advises that since opening their doors on August 18th, library membership had increased from 254 to in excess of 2000 members by the end of 2003.

Alice O’Rourke, Sligo County Council’s Environmental Education Officer, outlined the Tubbercurry one-stop shop Environmental policy… ‘Our objective in south Sligo is to promote and implement best environmental practice within the Tubbercurry one-stop-shop in the areas of waste, water and energy management.’ 
Alice feels that with diverse groups and agencies taking up residence in the facility, it is an opportune time to set down environmental guidelines for those working in or visiting the building.

Having been based in premises at Connolly Park, for thirty years, there was a sitting of the District Court in Tubbercurry on 23rd July 2003. Justice Oliver McGuinness opened proceedings in their new surroundings by paying tribute to Sligo County Council and the Court Service for having ‘the foresight to plan this initiative and the resolve to bring it to fruition’

These sentiments were echoed by Eamon Gallagher on behalf of the Sligo Solicitors, who said the development was finished to a very high standard.

District Court Clerk Bill Cashel said the new facility would also be welcomed by court users ‘Any improvement that can make the task of going to court less stressful is to be welcomed. It is clear that the one stop shop has been very well planned and designed - the court offices and consultation rooms have been very well laid out and equipped, and I think particular credit to Administrative Officer James Walsh and County Librarian Donal Tinney for their generous co-operation during this transition.’

Development Manager of Sligo Citizens Information Service, Joe McElhinney is excited by the prospects for their new South Sligo Office. The Service provides a confidential and independent advice on people’s rights and settlements covering a wide range of issues including financial matters, health services, justice and legislation and equality issues. Joe is a great believer in ‘the one stop shop concept’

“I have seen it work very well for our office in Donegal, and I have equally high expectations for our service in Tubbercurry. Previously we were based in the health centre in the town, and it is great boost for us to be based in a more central location. There will be a substantial ‘spin-off’ effect by being housed alongside other agencies. In the short term we will be open one day a week (Thursdays 10.00am-4.00pm), but ultimately our intention is to employ local staff in the Tubbercurry Office and to provide a service five days a week.”

Joe explained that the Citizens Information Service is funded by Comhairle (formerly National Social Services Department), which was established to fund and promote Citizens information services throughout the country.

‘I expect the Citizen Information Service in Tubbercurry to go from strength to strength, and early indications are that it will be well availed of by the local community.’ Cathaoirleach Cllr Joe Cawley remarked that ‘For the people of South Sligo, it can often be very impractical to commute to Sligo to transact their business. In this day and age, customers deserve to have an accessible, professional service, and the One Stop Shop permits the Council to deliver this service. I think you will find over the years that the people of South Sligo will greatly appreciate this service, and indeed it could serve as a model for other such facilities in the future.’