A shared services agenda offers considerable scope for efficiency gains.  This was demonstrated by Hubert Kearns, Manager of Sligo County Council in his presentation at the ICLRD Conference.  Not only did he highlight the mutual benefits of such an agenda between neighbouring councils but also on a regional and cross-border basis.  But challenges remain, particularly around the sharing of information which in turn would support a shared services agenda; examples including (a) motor tax enforcement --- the council knows who has and who hasn't paid their motor tax but this information is not curently shared with An Garda Siochana; and (b) the somewhat crazy situation whereby two government offices (the council and social welfare office) are involved in handling the same welfare monies i.e. the use of welfare payments to pay social housing rents.
From an efficiency perspective (and in the current climate, economies of scale)has any study being carried out that specifically highlights the extent of such duplication (even mismanagement) of services? and the opportunities that exist for mainstreaming and developing a more comprehensive (and effective) shared services programme?