Local Democracy Taskforce established aimed at giving councillors more power
Ministers have confirmed the establishment of the Local Democracy Taskforce to reform and strengthen local government.
The taskforce's work will be organised into four key pillars: Structure, Finance, Functions and Governance/ Accountability. It is expected to give more decision-making powers to councillors amongst other reforms.
The taskforce will focus on:
The possibility of devolving more decision-making powers to Councillors;
How to strengthen the framework and powers of Municipal Districts and Area Committees;
Consider granting councillors greater input and control over the development and implementation of the local authority budget and mechanisms to enhance fiscal autonomy.
It will also examine:
The rebalancing of power between elected councillors and the executive, to ensure that elected officials have a right to be consulted on a greater range of decisions;
Mechanisms to increase the accountability of the Chief Executive and Directors of Services to councillors for executive decisions, and;
The proportion of local authority members to population and examine how to deliver greater diversity of representation.
The taskforce, confirmed by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne and Minister of State with responsibility for planning local government John Cummins TD, will be chaired by Jim Breslin, former Secretary General of the Departments of Children, Health and Further and Higher Education. Deputy Browne said: "The work of the Taskforce will pave the way for the next generation of local government reform. Local government plays an important role in our democracy and in the delivery of essential services in Ireland. Local authorities provide over 1,100 services and are the linchpin for the lives of many in our community at local level.
"Now more than ever, we recognise the importance of continually striving to enhance our democracy at local level, ensuring that the very best people enter local government and have the powers and capacity to work on behalf of the people who have elected them."
It will have strong input from the Local Government sector and will be comprised of Local Authority elected member representative bodies, Local Authority executive representatives, the National Oversight and Audit Commission, the Local Government Management Agency, the Local Government Audit Service, the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage, as well as a number of independent experts.
The first meeting will be held later this month.
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