Fine Gael election manifesto calls for councillors to get greater powers

More power for councillors, greater accountability in the planning process and the liberalisation of the public transport system are among the keys points of the Fine Gael local election manifesto, published yesterday. The document also calls for an immediate programme of capital assistance to provide 10,000 new local authority housing starts a year, followed by legislation to enforce planning standards on builders.

Introducing the manifesto in Dublin, Fine Gael's environment spokesman, Mr Alan Dukes, said the party wanted to change the balance of power between the elected members of local authorities and executive staff, in favour of the former. In line with this, however, a public accounts committee should be established in each authority area with powers to examine how money was spent.

Local authorities should be involved at every stage of the preparation of the next national development plan, Mr Dukes added, while the elected members of planning authorities should be given a greater role in the planning system, in order both to make it more accountable and to reduce delays.

As well as seeking legislation requiring that builders complete work on time and in keeping with planning conditions, he said Fine Gael was proposing "more explicit obligations on planning authorities to monitor compliance with planning conditions, and a right to redress for aggrieved home buyers against both the builder and the planning authority".

On the issue of modernising local administration, he called for a review of management structures to enable them become "vibrant, innovative partners" with local communities.

Fine Gael was also proposing that a "local government citizens' charter" be drawn up, setting out the rights of citizens and the duties of local authorities, with reference to such issues as speed of response and availability of information.

Fine Gael's director of organisation, Mr Terry Murphy, said the party hoped to win around 300 county council seats, compared to 270 in 1991. Three counties - Cork, Sligo and Mayo - had been targeted for possible overall majorities for the party, he added, and it also hoped to double its representation on Dublin Corporation.

The party's director of local elections, Mr Frank Flannery, said half the 740 candidates were standing for the first time; and in Dublin, one in three candidates were women.