Letters

Rethinking Dublin

Restoring financial autonomy to capital’s councils

Wed Oct 26 2022 - 00:08

Sir, – Una Mullally comes down hard on Owen Keegan, chief executive of Dublin City Council (DCC), for not understanding urbanism (“Why has street life in Dublin city become so depressed?”, Opinion & Analysis, October 24th).

Owen Keegan is doing his job. He has a mandate to keep the council running and to deliver the objectives of the city development plan. He is doing so on a threadbare budget.

Nowhere does Una Mullally mention the city councillors, who all, apart from the Green Party, have voted to lower property tax by the maximum allowable amount for years. Owen Keegan and the rest of the executive have to make up the difference – so installing things like phone booths-cum-billboards, removing trees and benches because of insurance costs, and permitting developments that bring in large development levies makes sense.

Until the fiscal authority of councils is restored – by allowing them to keep all of their tax revenue rather than share it into a central pot, and by allowing them to borrow in the same way central government can borrow – then DCC will continue to be dysfunctional. – Yours, etc,

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CIAN McKENNA,

Dublin 2.

Sir, – I share much of Una Mullally’s aspirations for a better Dublin. However, until we deal with the twin and related issues of funding of local government and the controlling role of the Department of Housing and Local Government on this issue, that is all they will be – aspirations.

Dublin deserves better. It can be better. – Yours, etc,

Cllr DERMOT LACEY,

Donnybrook,

Dublin 4.

Sir, – I believe that the Dublin city of the future that we need is not one where everyone drives an electric car, but rather a city where corporate executives always travel by public transport. – Is mise,

DERMOT O’ROURKE,

Lucan,

Co Dublin.