Sir, – Your editorial "Local government – a welcome rethink" (March 3rd) praises the Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin for his admission that the abolition of the country's 80 town councils was a policy mistake. Your editorial writer remarks that Ireland is a highly centralised state and that the further elimination of local representation reinforces that position.
The organisation of government may be considered along a number of dimensions – political, administrative, financial and functional. The international evidence does not support the view that Ireland is highly centralised politically. Rather, it suggests that it is in terms of the administrative and, to a lesser extent, financial dimensions that Ireland is relatively more centralised.
Perhaps Mr Howlin should be advised to accept the modest political reform achieved, with its reduced opportunities for clientelism and for the diversion of resources for political gain. – Yours, etc,
BERNARD FEENEY,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.
A chara, – I found myself rubbing my eyes in disbelief when reading "Town council abolition a mistake that should be reversed, says Howlin" (Home News, March 2nd).
With a crisis in the health and education sectors due to lack of funding, and a very fragile economic recovery proving sluggish, to say the least, the Minister for Public Expenditure says he wants the taxpayer to restore a neutered and impotent level of local “government” to our towns. Why, exactly?
Councils and corporations were, without a doubt, colourful, with members all frocked up in fancy robes and ersatz-mediaeval chains of office, but such bodies cost far too much compared to what they gave.
Just because there are a few bruised political egos wandering around the towns of Ireland doesn’t mean we can afford to restore this pretty useless layer of talking shop – councils had absolutely no fiscal powers – much less pay them the salaries and expenses which we once did. I would have no problem with the restoration of such councils as purely voluntary entities in the manner of, say, Tidy Towns committees or GAA bodies. Local radio and newspapers would appreciate that also, allowing them to fulfil their public interest duties by publishing the press releases of local representatives.
If we are to have real local government reform, we should, as is often recommended, be looking at the amalgamation of county councils in order to have efficient levels of service for citizens. Furthermore, the reform of local government was a commitment in the manifestos of the national government parties, and manifestos are politically sacred.
The efficient and distinguished Minister should be told, and in no uncertain terms, that we just cannot afford another level of pointless talking shops in order to restore some perceived level of self-esteem to “wannabe” or “used to be” politicians. – Is mise,
GARY LYNCH,
Kilkenny.
Sir, – Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin admits that the abolition of all 80 town councils by the present government is “one of his biggest regrets”.
Town councils, notwithstanding their long history, have been derided, described by critics as a layer of representation that we did not need. Yet elected representation in a town has a value in itself. Who better placed to highlight the needs and concerns of the community than your local councillor? Furthermore, the town council provided leadership, a forum for shared interests, and an opportunity for a greater diversity of personal capacities. These possibilities have now been set at nought.
Living in a town affected by this mistaken decision, caught in the classic local problem of efficiency and economy versus community sentiment, I believe abolition to be a disaster that should be reversed. – Yours, etc,
JOHN F FALLON,
Boyle,
Co Roscommon.