Labour helped abolish town councils
Dear Sir,
I read with interest Senator Nash’s article recently published in The Drogheda Independent in relation to “restoring the Drogheda Borough Council” -in which he played an integral part in the Fine Gael/Labour government in 2014 to abolish town councils.
History Summary: In 2014 80 town councils were abolished as part of “Local Government Reform” under Fine Gael/Labour government. The Local Government Bill published by the then Minster of the Environment Phil Hogan, reduced the number of councillors by more than 40%.
Following their abolition of town councils, a new Municipal District County Council were set up. This “strategy” had the affect of essentially emasculating many urban areas, such as: power to voice local people’s concerns; introducing any meaningful policy for the inhabitants of those local areas, etc.
For example: take the town of Drogheda. Before this “slash and burn approach” was introduced and supported by The Labour Party. Drogheda had a Borough Council comprising of 12 members. Now there is 10 members over a wider geographical area in the new Municipal District. This has effectively transferred the seat of power to Dundalk where there is no local accountability for Drogheda or its environs.
Even the mayoralty was under threat from Fine Gael/Labour government – in which they (Senator Nash and co) wanted/acquiesced to the idea to abolish the office of Mayor of Drogheda – only stopped by strong representation from local councillors to kill this idea – although as far as I know most of the members of the local Manipal district can abolish this office if agreed by a majority.
It is a known fact that Ireland has the highest proportion of people per local representative – 2800. Denmark has 1100 per local representative
Senator Nash stated recently that he would introduce legislation via the Senate – a glorified talking shop with practically no real power. Yours, Fergal Bell, Drogheda.