Clare Motor Tax Office Wins Two National ‘Excellence’ Awards

The Service, which was the first Motor Tax Office in the country to receive a Quality Service Management Award (Q-Mark), was named winner of the "Rehab National Team Of The Year" award for small to medium sized enterprises while staff member Alison O’Brien was selected as overall "Rehab National Team Player Of The Year".

Mayor of Clare Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn, who attended the National Quality & Excellence Awards ceremony at the City West Hotel in Dublin, said the award’s success was the culmination of over four years of hard work by the Clare Motor Tax Office to further improve customer service standards.

She added, ‘Clare Local Authorities are delighted that the Motor Tax Office has been selected ahead of 25 other shortlistees, including hospitals, prisons, supermarkets and local authorities throughout Ireland to be named overall winner.’

According to Ms. Noeleen Fitzgerald, Head of Finance, Clare County Council, ‘I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of a very committed workforce, and more particularly the Q-Mark Project Team. All 20 members of staff in Clare Motor Tax Office are committed to service quality, a commitment that is led by office and directorate management.’

Ms. Fitzgerald congratulated Alison O’Brien, Assistant Staff Officer, on being named "National Team Player Of The Year".

She continued, ‘since 2004, Alison has been involved in coordinating the annual EIQA audit and following up and implementing any recommendations. Her approach to further developing customer services is indicative of the overall approach by staff members at the office. I would like to sincerely thank and congratulate the Clare Motor Taxation Office Q-Mark Project Team of Colm O’Mahony, Alison O’Brien and Josephine Tuohy. Furthermore, I would like to pay special tribute to the work of Gerry Glennon, who retired as Administrative Officer in April.’

Commenting on the award successes, Ms. Alison O’Brien stated, ‘both awards are dedicated to the past and present staff of Clare Motor Tax Office. The awards recognise the Quality Management Systems in place and the office’s commitment to customer service.’

Ms. O’Brien explained that the office was first awarded the Q-Mark by the EIQA in June 2004 and has successfully retained it every year since.

‘These awards are recognition of our continual improvement since June 2004 during which time our overall score has increased by 15%. Our intention is to continue to provide the most effective efficient and friendly service to the public of County Clare’, said Ms. O’Brien .

The Clare Motor Tax Office is responsible for the issue of all vehicle licences and driver licences for County Clare. The office also deals with change of ownership transactions and parking fines while it provides services to the Courts Service of Ireland, An Garda Síochána and Solicitors, as well as State, Semi-State and other regulatory bodies. Our headquarters is located at Francis Street in Ennis.

Clare Motor Tax is the only office of its kind in the country to operate a late openings service while the Office has recently expanded its range on online service around the county. For example, the Local Authority’s most recently opened Area Office in Scariff features an online motor tax facility.

The Office has also been recognised nationally for its same day return service for taxation renewals transacted through the post, as well as its next day return service for driving licences. Earlier this month, the Local Government Management Services Board revealed that the Clare Motor Tax Office had a 99% success rate in its next day return service, the highest recorded by any local Motor Tax Office in the country.

Meanwhile, newly released figures show that the Clare Motor Tax Office issued a total of 128,633 tax discs and driving licences during 2007.

Mr. Colm O’Mahony, Staff Officer, Clare Motor Tax Office, commented, ‘Our extended opening hours on Thursday and Friday nights from 5-7p.m. continues to be the most popular element of service with the public. The service also boasts a full motor tax facility in Ennistymon, while it hosts an online motor tax service at the Council’s Area Offices in Kilrush, Scariff and Westbury."

The Clare County Council Motor Taxation Office is situated at Francis Street, Ennis and deals with Motor Taxation and Driver Licensing for County Clare. Clare County Council carries out the Motor Taxation function on an agency basis for the Minister for the Environment Heritage And Local Government.

For more information on the Clare Motor Tax Office call 065-6844661, email motortax@clarecoco.ie or log on to www.clarecoco.ie/Motor_Tax/Motor_Tax.html

-ENDS-

Note to Editor:
Colm O’Mahony, Staff Officer, Clare Motor Tax Office, and Alison O’Brien, Assistant Staff Officer, Clare Motor Tax Office, are available for interview and further comment. To arrange please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900