Labour attempt to return power to Drogheda
NEW legislation published by the Labour Party last week would see the full powers and functions of Drogheda Borough Council restored and a new 15-member local authority established to govern Drogheda and its environs.
The Bill would also provide for a 9-member Town Council for the Laytown-Bettystown-Monrington (LBM) area.
Fine Gael Minister Phil Hogan abolished Drogheda Borough Council and other Town Councils in 2014. At the time, local Labour representative Ged Nash made the full restoration of the Borough Council a central feature of his Party’s election manifesto in 2016.
“In the next few weeks, Fine Gael will present a local government ‘reform’ plan which will, on the face of it, give the appearance that real local government will be restored to Drogheda. This Fine Gael/Independent Alliance government will do nothing of the sort,” he told the Drogheda Independent.
“The Labour Party has taken a pro-active and practical approach. The law needs to change for our Council to be restored and I have helped to craft the legislation that will allow that to happen.”
The Labour Senator said the bill will see full rate & revenue raising and development planning functions restored to Drogheda and all of the other functions enjoyed pre the ‘Reform’ Act.
“Importantly, the new Council will be a 15-member authority elected from a single Drogheda electoral area,” he added.