Should elected officials have more power? Councillors in Wicklow weigh-in as national taskforce begins review
The Wicklow PeopleThe balance of power between council officials and elected councillors is set to come under the spotlight as the new Local Democracy Taskforce begins its work across the country.
Established over six months ago, the work of the taskforce will be organised into four key pillars of Structure, Finance, Functions and Governance/ Accountability, with councillors’ powers being considered under each pillar. A scoping report is due to be published in the coming months.
The future of local government featured as part of a presentation from the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) during the last council meeting of 2025, where they were asked what changes should take place to ensure local government is operating at its best, and for the benefit of all citizens.
The responses from several councillors across the political spectrum, following the presentation, paints a picture of frustration with the current system, a desire to be able to do more for their constituents, and shock at just how poorly Ireland’s local democracy ranks against other European countries.
Cllr Gail Dunne (Fianna Fáil, Wicklow)
Cllr Dunne reflected on his tenure as the first Wicklow local representative to hold the position of President of the AILG, the national representative body for Ireland’s 949 councillors.
Cllr Dunne’s term ran between 2023 and 2024, with his tenure has been characterised by his commitment to the safety, well-being, and professional development of city and county councillors.
He launched multiple, tailored training events and a new 24/7 security service to ensure councillors’ peace of mind during their public service, and he additionally spoke out about the issue of councillor safety on multiple media outlets, following a survey of councillors across the country.
Reflecting on his tenure, Cllr Dunne said it was a profound honour to serve as President of the AILG.
“I am proud of the progress we’ve made in supporting our members and advocating for their needs, which is also a testament to our collective efforts. I encourage other members in the chamber to get involved with the training programmes on offer.”
Cllr Tom Fortune (Independent, Greystones)
“I think the democratically elected councillors are being undermined and have been undermined for several years. Local Government reform and empowering councillors needs to be addressed because a lot of powers now are going back to the centre, and they get re-sent down from the centre to the executive of the local authority. As a public rep, as an elected public rep, I feel very strongly about that.
“There's lots of stuff going on in local government and at local government level, but as an elected councillor I am just wondering where it's heading and I would have serious concerns, and AILG are the one organisation that can address that.”
Cllr Pat Kennedy (Fianna Fáil, Arklow)
“Giving Ccuncillors a stronger voice at national level. I think that's very important. Because if councillors have a stronger voice at national level that gives the communities that we represent a stronger voice.”
“We continue to fight vigorously to get back the powers that we have lost and to attain new powers. But ultimately, whatever happens in the task force report, it goes to Government. The Government will have to decide whether they want to accept it or not, and if they are going to accept it then they must roll out what actions they are going to take that will make the difference.
“Up to now there's been a lot of talking. The sounds, you know the moon music is good, but I'll certainly judge it on what the Government comes up with at the end and what goes through the Dáil in terms of reform.”
“But it is very, very important work for not just for us but for the people out there, the people who are not here today, the people we represent, who kind of expect us to do their work for them, and in the past we have not been able to do the work we wanted to do and hopefully this task force will change that.”
Cllr Lourda Scott (Green Party, Greystones)
“I was in touch with the AILG back in the 2019-2024 council, and we'd set up a very successful women's councillors caucus here in Wicklow. Unfortunately, I suppose the last local elections didn't see the change in diversification particularly around the gender area as we look across our own local authority here and across local authorities across Ireland. I am very interested to see now the plans develop for the Regional Caucus Network. It is certainly something I have been asking for quite some time.”
Cllr Miriam Murphy (Independent, Arklow)
“Going forward I think that we need AILG input on disability on their agenda. I know that there is a keen interest from the executive, but I think it needs to be much stronger because there is a huge, huge move for disability coming down the line with the European Disability Strategy, and I think the council members need to have that knowledge, not just on one section but on all sections of it.
“It extends to a range of areas, including how we provide the service, our disability facilities, our documents going out for disability proofing. I think AILG has 949 Councillors, it is a huge network, and we need to be able to reach them.”
Cllr Dermot Daisy O’ Brien (Sinn Féin, Bray)
“I feel that AILG does centre councillors in its work, and I also feel that that's not transactional, that you don't expect something from me to serve me. And I think that's very sincere, and I think their commitment is very sincere.
“The training, the research, the webinars, the proactive engagement, I think all of them form very strong layers for the significance and importance of AILG. So, I want to pay tribute. I think when we get to the inevitable conversations about Irish unity those relationships also will matter very significantly.”
Cllr Peir Leonard (Independent, Arklow)
“As an independent female councillor who wasn't from a political background, it's been tough going for the last few years and I'd love to say that
I'm not disillusioned about local democracy, but I am. Because it takes a lot of energy. You put a lot of energy in working with the community and trying to get things done, and the system just doesn't bend for, that local voice.”
“It takes a long time to see stuff coming through. I suppose anything that I would have worked on I probably mightn't see coming through for another ten years. And community groups don’t understand that.”
Cllr Sylvester Bourke (Fine Gael, Arklow)
“I must say that I am a bit disappointed with our own party who were in Government during times of reform for dragging their feet for so long in terms of bringing those implementations into place. I think when Leo Varadkar and John Paul Phelan were there, they could have acted a bit more swiftly, but I realise they're probably afraid of the media.”
“I do feel that the role of councillors is diminished a great deal by national media and certain national journalists. When there was a discussion before the last European elections, candidates were being talked about in the media and one was described as, oh, sure he's only a councillor. This was Colm Markey, who I served with on the Regional Assembly and who became an MEP subsequently when Mairead McGuinness I think had to move on to greater things.”
“So, it is just that fear I think that ministers have of media diminishing decisions that are taken that improve the lot of councillors, I think that is something that needs to be addressed. Never forget that a man who sat beside me here 15 years ago was only a councillor, but he rose to become Taoiseach, that's Simon Harris. We do need to keep that in mind and be mindful.”
Cllr Avril Cronin (Fine Gael, Baltinglass)
“As one of the Wicklow representatives on AILG I see the huge work that goes into their role. I for one certainly feel that the councillors are being listened to and that our concerns and our issues are being brought back to the powers that be.”
Cllr John Snell (Independent, Wicklow)
“In 2009 when I came into this chamber there was one female out of the 32 in Wicklow County Council. Today it's great to say that there's nine female members. But if you're going to have a conversation about getting more females involved in the political process, I think you must also look at when people step aside. The last three female members who didn't finish their term, Wicklow County Council co opted on males to take up that role. So that's just over 9pc of the make-up of this chamber. So, you also must factor that into the debate that you're having.”
“I don't know how you do it, because obviously if they're aligned to a political party the party will decide who takes up that role.”
The last major reform of local government in Ireland took place in 2014 which led to the abolition of Town and Borough Councils, replacing them with the current Municipal Districts in Arklow, Bray, Baltinglass, Greystones and Wicklow and centralised services through Wicklow County Council.