Calls for further devolution of funding and power to local government
Ballinrobe-based councillor Damien Ryan has been appointed to a new Local Democracy Taskforce that aims to ‘reform and strengthen local government’.
In the annual general meeting of the Claremorris-Swinford municipal district, Cllr Ryan announced he was one of only five councillors chosen to sit on the Taskforce. He said, “We need to look at the vacuums in the towns, we need to look at how local government is working and where the problems are,
“We shouldn’t have competitions where it is urban versus rural. We now have a competition where the towns are outweighing the villages. That is totally wrong. Both should excel, and both should have their own stream of funding.”
He argued that municipal districts must receive substantial funding to support urban vacuums that were “developed as a result of the withdrawal of town councils.”
He continued, “If we are talking about better local government, then funding needs to follow the power” and called the Claremorris-Swinford municipal district a “prototype” of how local government can work successfully.
Cllr Ryan who is the chairperson of the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) said in a statement today,
“This is a Taskforce shaped not from the top down, but by the voices of those directly elected by communities. The work of this Taskforce must lead to stronger powers, clearer roles, and better resources for Councillors across the country — and we are confident that our representatives will make that case powerfully and constructively.”
Former director of services for Claremorris-Swinford Paddy Mahon will also be on the Taskforce representing the County and City Managers Association.
The Local Democracy Taskforce was announced at the start of this month by Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage James Browne, along with Minister of State at the department, John Cummins.
Mr Browne said, “The work of the Taskforce will pave the way for the next generation of local government reform. Local government plays an important role in our democracy and in the delivery of essential services in Ireland,
“Local authorities provide over 1,100 services and are the linchpin for the lives of many in our community at local level. Now more than ever, we recognise the importance of continually striving to enhance our democracy at local level.”
Mr Cummins said the Taskforce will “examine a number of matters around the structure, functions, governance and funding of local authorities,
“This includes examining the rebalancing of power between elected councillors and the Executive, devolving more decision-making powers to councillors; as well as providing councillors with enhanced data and greater input over the local authority budget, among many other things.”
The Association of Irish Local Government welcomed the announcement, saying that it “represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen local democracy.”
The Taskforce will present its recommendations within the next six to nine months.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.