Proposals for a directly elected mayor with strong executive powers are finding favour with Dubliners, according to interim results from a consultation process on the creation of the new office.
Preliminary results from mayor4dublin.ie, the website set up by the four Dublin local authorities, show opinion in favour of having a mayor elected by Dublin residents at almost 80 per cent.
The public consultation process, which runs until October 12th, is being used to gauge what powers and remit people would like a mayor to have ahead of the submission of proposals for the office to the Government later this year.
The four Dublin councils have been charged by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan with formulating proposals for what the new mayor would do and how the new position would work.
Three options
Three options have been offered in the public consultation survey.
Option one is for a mayor with strong executive powers operating with a permanent chief executive and officials not appointed by the mayor.
Option two is also for a mayor with strong executive powers, but operating with a cabinet chosen by him or her.
Option three is for a mayor with a representational role and no executive or decision-making powers; this position would be similar to the current lord mayor role but for a longer term.
Results of the survey so far show almost three-quarters of respondents favour the executive type of mayor with strong decision-making powers. Option two, the mayor who can appoint a cabinet to manage the different areas of the city’s activities such as transport, housing or planning, is running ahead at 38 per cent, with 36 per cent favouring option one.
Fewer than 6 per cent chose the representational, or ambassadorial style of mayor.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn will also be hosting two workshops in the Mansion House as part of the consultation process. They will take place on October 8th at 5.30pm and October 12th at 2pm. Those wishing to participate can apply at their local library or email oonagh.casey@dublincity.ie stating the preferred date. Applications must be received by 5pm on Thursday.
