Corporate Services includes a range of important functions, including administration of meetings, providing training and other supports for elected members, the provision of Information Services, and the delivery of the highest standards of customer service.
Sligo County Council expects its services to be appraised to the highest standards, and the Customer Service Desk enables the authority to provide a professional, friendly customer-focused service. The ‘Desk’ provides a first point of contact for visitors to County Hall, or people who e-mail or phone the Council. The introduction of the e-direct correspondence tracking system ensures that queries are dealt with promptly and efficiently.
Two of the most important functions provided by Corporate Services staff are the administration of Higher Education Grants and the compilation of the electoral register.
Sligo County Council assisted 574 students under the current Higher Education Grants Scheme. There were 234 new applicants and 340 continuing students. The scheme is administered by the Council on behalf of the Department of Education and Science.
In the academic year 2009/2010 Sligo County Council assisted 113 students with the special rate of Maintenance Grant. A total of €2.5 million was allocated by Sligo County Council to students in maintenance and fees.
While the Minister for Education and Science has indicated that the administration of the scheme will be the responsibility of the Vocational Education Committees in future years, formal confirmation to this effect has not been issued and provision for the administration of the scheme in the next academic year has been included in this year’s Annual Budget.
Local Elections were held in June 2009. Five new councillors were elected and, at the Inaugural Meeting held on 19 June 2009, Councillor Gerry Murray was elected Cathaoirleach.
A high quality Register of Electors is essential for the successful operation of the electoral system and of the democratic process itself. Sligo County Council prepares the Register of Electors annually and, as always, a major effort was made to achieve the highest possible degree of accuracy and comprehensiveness in compiling the Register. The Draft Register of Electors was printed on the 1st November 2009. There were 51,983 electors registered on the 2010/2011 Draft Register.
Ballymote 8,531
Dromore West 8,914
Sligo/Drumcliffe 12,852
Sligo/Strandhill 13,428
Tubbercurry 8,258
TOTAL 51,983