Local authorities improved their performance across a range of indicators during 2019, making advances in the areas of housing provision, business supports, the expansion of online services and the provision of community services.
The advances are detailed in Local Authority Performance Indicator Report 2019 by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC), which found that:
- Local authorities added 5,619 units to the social housing stock in 2019, an increase of 42% on 2018.
- The Local Enterprise Offices assisted in the creation of 3,149 jobs during 2019.
- In 2019, local authorities achieved a cumulative 27.81% of energy savings. The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2009 – 2020 (NEEAP) requires every public service organisation to achieve a 33% energy efficiency improvement by the end of 2020.
- There were nearly 17 million visits to libraries in 2019 where over 15 million items were borrowed - an increase of 10% on 2018.
- There were over 81 million visits to local authority websites and local authority social media following increased by 32% to 3.1 million in 2019. 77.10% of motor tax transactions were conducted online, up from 75% in 2018.
- 72,203 samples of private water schemes were taken in 2019, an increase of 10.44% from 2018.
- A total of 32,196 private rented dwellings were inspected by local authorities in 2019, an increase of 35% from 2018.
- In 2019 the median number of minutes taken to mobilise the fire brigade in full-time stations to respond to a fire incident was 1 minute 24 seconds.
- In 2019, a total of 16,012 community organisations were included in the Public Participation Network (PPN) county registers nationally - an increase of 969 organisations since 2018. PPNs enable the public to take an active and formal role in the policy-making activities of local authorities that will affect their communities.
Commenting on the report, Tim Lucey, Chair of the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and Chief Executive of Cork County Council said:
“Local authorities are continually seeking to improve their services and increase efficiency. It is heartening to see this reflected in the 2019 performance indicators. Progress made in 2019 meant we were in a very strong position to face the severe challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic this year.
“This past year we have seen significant innovation in the way councils deliver their services in response to the pandemic. The expanded provision of services online and the marked increase in people having access to council information over social and digital media in 2019 helped local authorities to respond quickly and to communicate effectively with their communities.
“In the context of a Covid-19 and its impact on our economy and jobs, it is important to note the vital role local authorities play in economic development and job creation, including through Local Enterprise Offices. Local Enterprise Offices assisted in the creation of more than 3,000 jobs in 2019 and I have no doubt local authorities will be key in supporting economic recovery in the crucial months ahead.”
You can find an infographic report featuring the headline findings here: INFOGRAPHIC OF PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2019.pdf (size 2.8 MB)