Councillors agree to delegate further functions to districts

MEMBERS passed a document last Tuesday evening delegating certain functions to Municipal Districts rather than Wicklow County Council,

In particular, the Part 8 and Local Area Plans. The matter had been deferred from the September meeting to give members the opportunity to read the document. The document had already been considered by four of the five municipal district councils and is due before the full council in November. Cllr Steven Matthews said that Lorraine Gallagher had done a fantastic job of pulling all the legislation together.

Cllr Joe Behan said that he had proposed that all powers possible should be transferred to the district. Cllr Matthews said that it had been. ‘Based on earlier tonight, I would give this body any power at all,’ said Cllr John Ryan.

Cllr Christopher Fox said that it was agreed at the last meeting that councillors would be given more time to consider the document. ‘I have read it and am satisfied with it,’ he said. ‘All I asked for at the last meeting was more time to consider it.’

The matter was passed, five votes to three, with Cllr Joe Behan, Cllr Oliver O’Brien and Cllr Brendan Thornhill voting against.