Sir, – I wish to respond to Frank McDonald's article "So much for devolution as regional hubs see power and financial clout evaporate", News Agenda, March 3rd). The Local Government Reform Act 2014 introduces the most radical change to the structure of local government in over a century. The number of local authorities is reducing from 114 to 31 at this year's local elections and the number of councillors from over 1,600 to 949. This involves the merger of city/county councils in Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford, the dissolution of the 80 town councils, and an overall reduction of over 190 statutory local bodies. The resources that have been absorbed in operating these structures and their associated processes will, in future, be more directly and effectively deployed in improving frontline local services and working to enhance the quality of life in local communities. Far from evaporating, finances will be freed up.
From the title to the end of the article there is a focus on cities and towns which is not reflective of the broad range of the reforms that are actually proposed and which will ensure a more democratic representation of citizens and communities across the country and not just in urban areas. To that end, I would like to point out that while the current system of town councils accounts for 46 per cent of all councillors, it only represents 14 per cent of the population and deals with only 7 per cent of local government activity. Under the new system of municipal districts, all areas – rural and urban – will be equally represented at municipal district and county levels, effectively ending the distortion in representation caused by dual franchise, outdated town boundaries and the anomaly of some small centres having town councils while larger centres do not. This is a reform for a modern Ireland that will ensure that decision-making is devolved to the citizens and communities that it will affect.
Contrary to the assertion in the article, municipal districts will be much more than just ineffectual committees with members deciding a range of issues on a fully devolved basis including local area plans, local bylaws, local charges and programmes of works such as roads, housing and amenities. In fact, the reform programme, and the Local Government Reform Act 2014 in particular, significantly enhance the functions of local authorities at all levels.
For the first time in decades real powers are being devolved to local government, including in the areas of local economic development through the establishment of local enterprise offices, community development and in the ability of authorities to generate their own revenue.
In terms of the latter I note that rather than centralising control of the purse strings the rules for the local property tax will actually allow local government discretion of up to 30 per cent on the level of tax to be charged as local service needs demand and all proceeds from the tax go to funding local government.
By any measure of local government reform, this represents a significant enhancement of local democracy, councillors’ powers and an improvement in the financial independence of local government. – Yours, etc,
PHIL HOGAN TD,
Minister for the
Environment, Community
and Local Government,
Custom House,
Dublin 1.