Local Government Bill is an opportunity for real political and administrative reform at local level – O’Donovan

Added November 15th, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan has said that the new Local Government Bill is an opportunity for real political and administrative reform at local level. Speaking in the Dáil this week, Patrick O’Donovan said that he believed, having served over seven years on Limerick County Council, that change needs to come quickly to our councils.

Patrick O’Donovan said that the decision of the Government to unite the two Limerick authorities was the right decision but he said that implementation needed to be properly monitored to ensure that no part of Limerick was placed at a disadvantage when the new authority came into existence.

The Limerick TD rejected the assertion of some members of the Dáil that the abolition of Town Council’s was a mistake, saying that it was clear to him that based on the comments he had received from employers and business people in Limerick that the uniting of the two local authorities was a positive step, and would be especially welcomed by rate payers.

Patrick O’Donovan asked that consideration be given by Government to increasing the amount of shared services between Local Authorities on a regional basis and he welcomed the recent establishment of a shared services centre in Portlaoise to cut back on the amount of duplication that exists in many local authorities.

Deputy O’Donovan said that the Government had committed itself after the election to reducing the number of local authorities and to increasing the powers to Councillors. This he said was the start of this process and while there will be teething problems he believed the bill is welcome. Patrick O’Donovan asked that a supervisory role be given to the Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Local Government, to ensure that officials of Councils, and Councillors themselves could appear before it in the future and account for particular decisions. He also asked that a fund be established within Council’s to allow members to obtain independent advice in the drawing up of plans where the wishes of the Council was different to that of the Manager.

Patrick O’Donovan said he looked forward to seeing the Bill put into force and he wished everyone that puts their names on a ballot paper for the 2014 Local Elections well in their campaigns.