Tipperary senator calls for changes to security scheme to protect local councillors

A Tipperary senator has raised the issue of security for local councillors in the Seanad this week.

Fine Gael senator Garret Ahearn raised the issue in the Seanad, saying that the security and safety of all public representatives should be prioritised, and called for local councillors to be afforded the same security measures as Oireachtas members.

Speaking in the Seanad, the Tipperary senator said that “politics has changed in the past 20 years. Demands on politicians and local representatives have increased dramatically”.

“One of the biggest challenges we have seen over the past ten years concerns the security and safety of all public representatives,” he added.

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Pointing to schemes that have been introduced by the Government in recent years where Oireachtas members and local councillors could secure their homes and offices, Senator Ahearn said that uptake on the scheme has been slow.

“[The scheme] has been welcomed and has been good, but the problem is that the uptake has not been significant. The uptake by Oireachtas Members has not been significant, and the uptake among councillors has certainly not been,” the Fine Gael senator said.

Under the scheme set up for councillors, they can spend €5,000 on safety measures in their homes, with 50% of that, or €2,500, reclaimable.

“When we talk to councillors around the country, we hear that one of the reasons the uptake has not been great is the 50% rebate. Councillors recognise they need to get the works done and increase security for their families and staff working in their offices, but they have different circumstances and financial challenges,” Senator Ahearn said.

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Calling for the scheme to be changed to allow for a 100% rebate for councillors, the Clonmel senator said that the safety of local representatives should be a key priority.

In response, the Minister of State for Local Government John Cummins said that a business case would be required to set out the rationale and evidence for any revision to the allowance, and that his department would keep that on their list of priorities.