Taoiseach admits to Tipperary TD that abolishment of town councils was a 'big mistake'
Independent TD Seamus Healy criticised the past decision to abolish town councils in 2014 when speaking to the Taoiseach in Leinster House this week.
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has today admitted that the abolishment of town council was a big mistake, according to a Tipperary TD.
Seamus Healy has been advocating for the re-emergence of town councils, after they were abolished in 2014 as part of the Local Government Reform Act.
In a statement to the Taoiseach, Deputy Healy criticised the past decision, saying: "Local government is the beating heart of democracy. That heart was torn out of democracy with the abolition of town and borough councils in 2014.
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"They were replaced by committees with no powers, functions or funding. This has done serious damage to towns across the country. I welcome the recent announcement regarding a local government task force but there is widespread concern about its composition.
"It is heavily loaded in favour of individuals and bodies with existing connections to local government management. There are representatives of the chief executive officers, local government management and the local government audit service along with an assistant secretary from the Department.
"There is no representation from community organisations, residents' associations, tenants' organisations, staff, trade unions or chambers of commerce. Will the Taoiseach review the composition of that task force with a view to including these bodies?" asked Deputy Healy.
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The Taoiseach responded to Deputy Healy's statement, saying that he will talk to the Minister and agreed that the abolition of town councils was a big mistake.
"I said that at the time, although I was in opposition. I think it was introduced by Brendan Howlin but he subsequently said it was a mistake. I am a great believer in restoring councils or creating new councils in line with the programme for Government.
"I will have a look at who is on the task force because there are always people who just want to maintain the status quo. Local representation is positive for local democracy and for local areas. I want to see that advance and that is the Government position. I particularly refer to new and growing areas.
"Many towns around the country had great visionary urban district councils in the past. They did not have a whole lot of money but they had good vision for their areas, which then dovetailed with national plans, resulting in very good cultural, social and developmental progress in towns the length and breadth of the country," concluded Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD.