Buncrana Councillor cites 'regional imbalance' in call to restore town councils

A Buncrana-based Donegal County Councillor says that town councils should be restored in urban areas with a population of more than 5,000 people.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Fionán Bradley tabled a motion on the matter to Monday’s meeting of Donegal County Council.

Councillor Bradley asked that Donegal County Council write to the leaders of every political party and independent grouping running candidates in the forthcoming General Election “urging them to include within their programme for government to fully commit, within the lifetime of the next Dáil to the restoration or creation of Town Councils in every town in this State with a population over 5,000 people".

His motion, which was seconded by party colleague Councillor Ciaran Brogan, was passed.

“Ireland is lagging the rest of the EU and the world when it comes to our representation at local government level,” Councillor Bradley said.

“Ireland has 949 councillors which is one councillor for every 5,399 people. Slovakia, a country similar to Ireland, has 20,646 councillors which is one to every 265 people. 

“I don’t want to see more councillors and more Councils just for the sake of it. I want to see local government strengthened and want to see the principle of subsidiarity implemented in full. 

“Local decisions should be taken by local people at a local level without interference. I believe this would enable full and complete accountability for people within their local area. 

“Power should be taken away from unelected officials and bureaucrats and given to elected representatives who are held accountable by the people every five years.”

In 2012, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government published Putting People First, which recommended the abolition of town councils. These councils were subsequently abolished in June 2014 under the Local Government Reform Act.

Councillor Bradley said the previous model for such authorities was “a Victorian model for Victorian times” and should have been amended rather than destroyed.

He said: “We have nine councillors in the Inishowen Municipal District now. Ten years ago, we had seven councillors representing the peninsula here in Lifford plus nine councillors in Buncrana, the second biggest town in the county.

“We talk a lot about regional imbalance, but if we look at it at a county-wide level, it might be fair to say that the bigger towns get the biggest chunk of the investment and the small towns and villages and rural areas maybe are being left behind across the board.”

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Independent Councillor Jimmy Brogan said that a different model than what was in place before would be needed. 

He said: “What has been happening for years and years in Ireland is that more power and more services are given to the bigger towns and if that is going too carry through to local politics it is a step in the wrong direction.”