Residents’ Survey 2018 Findings

The findings of a Residents’ Survey undertaken across the Fermanagh and Omagh district indicate that 70% of residents are satisfied with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, with 7% reporting that they are dissatisfied (19% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied and 3% preferring to not answer the question).  This compares favourably with councils across Great Britain where the average satisfaction level with councils is 65%.

In relation to individual council services, satisfaction levels are consistently higher and range from 97% for leisure services to 83% for planning.  Findings also indicate that, at a district level, 86% of residents are satisfied with their local area as a place to live and 86% of residents rate their health status as excellent or good.

When considered at a District Electoral Area (DEA), the survey findings have identified significant variations in overall satisfaction levels with the Council across the district ranging from 83% satisfied in Enniskillen to 35% in Erne North.

Analysis of the findings has also identified that a high proportion of residents are unclear as to the services which the Council is responsible for. This is likely to be having a negative impact on overall satisfaction levels with the Council.  For example, 59% of residents mistakenly believe that the Council is responsible for roads maintenance.  

The overall aim of the Residents’ Survey was to provide the Council and its partners with information on how residents assess their local area, the Council’s performance on a selection of areas and to collect information that will provide key indicators of the wellbeing of residents that are not available elsewhere.  The exercise has generated a wealth of valuable information which the Council will continue to analyse and review and a series of Fact Sheets will be compiled and shared over the coming months. 

Council Officers will be undertaking further work to raise awareness of Council service delivery, including focusing on how residents can connect and engage with the Council to ensure that we continue to be responsive to needs.  Specific work will be undertaken to get a better understanding of the underlying causes of variation in satisfaction levels across DEAs and to inform our ongoing work to transform and continuously improve the services we provide to residents.

The Council would like to take this opportunity to thank the 679 residents from across the district who took the time to participate in the survey and the 18 residents who participated in the focus groups.