Abolishment of town councils an ‘insult’

PROPOSALS to abolish town councils or remove their powers have been described as a “total insult to people” as members of Ennis Town Council emphasised the importance to local political representation.
The Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland have called on town councils to “stand up for local democracy” as the future of town councils in Ireland remains uncertain.
Both the McCarthy Report and many submissions to the White Paper on Local Government Reform, which is currently under review, have proposed their abolition. The Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group has recommended that the rating, housing, planning and roads functions of town councils be handed to county councils.
At a meeting of local councillors, Councillor Frankie Neylon argued that the number of TDs should be further reduced and the Senate abolished rather than removing town councils.
“Elected representatives realise how important town councils are when they are knocking on doors and they have local councillors on either side of them. The role of the local councillor is to be the eyes and ears of democracy and the removal of the town council would be a total insult to people. Democracy is alive and well and I hope that it continues. Local authorities do work, they work very well for the people of this county and I would hope Minister Phil Hogan will have a very clear look at this and come back with the same report as he did with the boundary issue.”
Councillor Tommy Brennan added that the Government, in making cuts, should “start at the top down”. He went on to say that he wasn’t surprised by the moves.
“I said this would happen years ago when they took powers from us and gave them to the regional authority. I remember saying the town councils will be abolished and the county council will be a parish council and all of the powers will be brought to Limerick. Everything else is going to Limerick now and it’s high time we called a halt to it.”
Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Michael Guilfoyle, outlined his opposition to the abolition of any local authority saying, “We got involved in politics not for financial gain but to represent the people of our town.
“The type of work we do on behalf of our constituents is more valuable than our TDs, we are here on the ground seven days a week, 365 days of the year.
“The TDs have a job to do but let people not be confused. If they want us to think that to eliminate councils we would have a better country, that is not the case.”