Plan for more Dublin councillors opposed

A GROUP of Northside councillors are opposing plans to increase the number of local representatives on Dublin City Council.

In an unusual display of cross party unity, local councillors from Finglas and Ballymun recently came together to support a Fianna Fail motion to reject the proposed changes to councils and councillor numbers.

Late last year, the Minister for Environment and the Taoiseach revealed the

‘Putting the People First’ programme, which is designed to reform and restructure some councils while abolishing others.

The move will result in 500 fewer councillors nationally, but Dublin City Council is set to have an increase in its number of councillors as the reconfiguration will be based on population density.

In a recent meeting of the North West Area Committee, councillors present including Paul McAuliffe (FF), John Redmond (Lab), Bill Tormey (FG) and Anthony Connaghan (SF) supported the motion to reject the Government’s proposal.

According to Cllr McAuliffe, who put forward the motion, the plan to increase the number of councillors in Dublin City Council is a

“gross waste of public money

? at a time when other areas of Government spending is being cut so dramatically.

“Increasing the number of councillors in Dublin is just

‘jobs for the boys’,

? he said.

“It’s cherry picking to ensure sitting Government councillors retain their seats in the next local elections.

“Dublin does not need more councillors. It’s not what people want and it’s not good for local government.

“The Minister’s proposals are a missed opportunity to provide real reform for local government. International experience tells us that in a large city like Dublin, we actually need less councillors who have more of their time focused on running the city.

?

Local councillor John Redmond (Lab) said there was no basis to increase the number of councillors in the area.

“I’m a full-time councillor. It’s what I do for a living and it’s a very demanding job,

? he stated.

“I believe there are enough of us to cover the issues on the ground.

?

Cllr Bill Tormey (FG) also supported the motion, but he described it as

“useless

?.

“The motion and who supports or doesn’t support it doesn’t matter,

? he told Northside People.

“These decisions have already been preordained. I don’t believe there’s a need to increase the number of councillors on Dublin City Council like I don’t agree with the proposal to scrap the Senate.

“I think it’s very lazy of the Government and Fine Gael to be doing these rush jobs on legislation that is very poor and ill thought out.

?

Late last year, the Minister for Environment released details of the proposal to readjust the number of councillors nationally which is aimed at creating an overall saving to the State of e420 million.

According to Minister Phil Hogan, the plan will signify the most fundamental overhaul of the local government sector in over 100 years.

The changes included in the

‘Putting People First’ programme will see the number of councillors nationally reduced by 42 per cent and the number of local authorities reduced from 114 to 31.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Taoiseach Enda Kenny described the new system as

“the most radical, ambitious and far-reaching governance reform plans ever put forward by an Irish Government

?.

“The reduction in the number of councillors, the merger of certain county councils and the replacement of town councils with municipal districts is a necessary reform designed to increase the efficiency of local government,

? the Taoiseach stated.

“It will ensure that taxpayers’ money is translated into the services people expect and deserve in their local areas.

“Putting People First represents the new vision required to strengthen and empower local government and Minister Hogan will oversee the implementation of many of its reforms in time for the 2014 local elections.

?