Cathaoirleach in town council vow

THE Cathaoirleach of Balbriggan Town Council has
warned that she and many others will put up a fight against any plans for its
abolishment.

Speculation is growing that Minister for the Environment
Phil Hogan’s proposals for the reform of local government may include axing
town councils countrywide.

Balbriggan Town Council, which was established over
150 years ago, is Dublin’s only town council.

It costs in the region of

?¬200,000 to run each year,
which Cathaoirleach Grainne Maguire insists is money that is reinvested into
the Balbriggan community.

“Our budget costs the price of a stamp in the overall
context of the department’s expenditure,

? Cllr Maguire told Northside People.

“I understand that money needs to be saved and that
the Department of the Environment needs to exercise tighter financial controls
but having a blanket abolishment of town councils is not in anyone’s interest.

“I can assure you that we make whatever money we get
go a long way.

“It pays for insurance, administration, staffing and
it’s reinvested into community initiatives such as Tidy Towns, local community
groups, the Summerfest festival and we give it away as prizes in Easter
competitions, school art and poetry projects. The list is endless.

?

Cllr Maguire, whose mother was also a previous
Cathaoirleach of the town council, is adamant that town councils such as the
one in Balbriggan have a vital role to play in communities.

“We have a civic role to play in the area and what we
stand for- the good and improvement of the community- is hugely important,

? she
stated.

“Everything that happens in Balbriggan happens because
of the good work of our town council.

“Undoubtedly there are some town councils that don’t
do a great deal but there are also those of us that do great work in our
areas.

?

Cllr Maguire pointed out that Balbriggan Town Council
was first established by the people.

“We as members are elected by the people and we will
continue to represent the people and by God we will fight any plans to abolish
our town council,

? she added.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party Dublin North
Constituency Council said any move to abolish town councils would be

“misguided

?.

“One of the results of the economic collapse has been
to highlight the massive gulf between the people and their politicians,

? the
spokesperson told Northside People.

“The key to bridging this gulf is to restore to people
the power to control what goes on in their own local areas.

“This means that any reform of local government
proposed by the Minister for the Environment needs to strengthen town and
county councils, not abolish them.

?

The Labour Party spokesperson added that plans to
consolidate local authorities were

“abolition in all but name

?.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment
said there was no suggestion that there’s going to be an abolishment of town
councils.

“They’re there and they exist,

? the spokesperson
stated.

“The Minister will bring forward his proposals in
relation to local government shortly at which stage it will be decided what
policies will be adopted,

? he added.