Regulations have been changed by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, to ensure that the Dublin city manager, Mr John Fitzgerald can stay on at his post for a further three years.
Under the existing rules, Mr Fitzgerald would have had to quit after seven years in the job in June 2003 because he did not avail of the option two years ago to seek a three-year extension.
However, the Minister has now given the highly regarded 56-year- old local authority manager a fortnight to notify Dublin City Council of his desire to remain on until June 2006.
Dublin City Council narrowly avoided abolition by the Government last month when it agreed to accept Mr Fitzgerald's recommendation to increase bin charges sharply to balance the authority's books. His managership is regarded as highly effective and its continuation is seen as important in relation to the challenges facing Dublin city over the next 3 years.
"When you have the best, you want to keep them. The Government is very keen to keep people like him working in the public system. It is in everybody's interests," a Department spokesperson said.
The Minister's decision applies only to Mr Fitzgerald and does not apply to any other local authority manager, or, indeed, any other senior official in the civil and public service.
Last night, Mr Fitzgerald told The Irish Times: "Two years ago, I was not in a position to commit to a further three years for a whole lot of reasons.
"But when it was put to me again that it might be available I said that I would consider it. There are advantages and disadvantages, but, on balance, it is something that I want to do," he said.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Labour's Cllr Dermot Lacey, welcomed Mr Fitzgerald's decision to remain on: "I'm glad that he is doing so. I don't always agree with him, but he has been good for the city." A certified accountant, Mr Fitzgerald became city manager after serving as South Dublin county manager from 1991.
