A NEWLY-FORMED local group in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, has launched a campaign for "home rule" to make up for the absence of a local authority in the town.
If its campaign is successful Roscrea will be the first town in the country to seek "association status" from the local authority under the provisions of the Local Government Act.
The 2001 Local Government Act stipulates that towns must have a minimum population of 7,500 before being granted local governance.
While considerably larger than neighbouring towns like Birr and Templemore - which do have town councils - Roscrea and its present population of some 5,600 does not qualify for town council status under the Act.
Local community activist John Lupton says this situation has given rise to a "democratic deficit" in Roscrea.
He is now part of the campaign to seek association status for the town from North Tipperary County Council under the provisions of the Act.
The proposed association status would see the local authority devolving some of its powers to an association of community and voluntary groups in Roscrea.
It is proposed that this association, which would be represented by its own "council" of members, would have a right to representation on statutory committees and boards.
It would also have the power, for example, to bestow civic receptions and organise town-twinning programmes.
Some 25 local groups and organisations have now joined to form the Roscrea Active Citizenship Association.
Its stated objective is to secure recognition and "meaningful" association status from North Tipperary County Council.
Mr Lupton says that the Roscrea Active Citizenship Association will meet again in September to elect its council, and to make a formal application for association status.