Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government

Local government, as recognised in Bunreacht na hÉireann, provides for the democratic representation of local communities. This role covers a very wide range of responsibilities and services which impact on us all. Local government is a key institution in planning and shaping our environment. The decisions made by local authorities affect the nature of our urban areas and our rural landscapes. They are key to determining where infrastructure should be located, to protecting our environment, and to providing services which are crucial to our quality of life – drinking water, recreational facilities, libraries, roads and other services.

The role played by local authorities in the community has expanded in recent years. They are more pro-active in community development, social inclusion, the promotion of culture and the arts than any time in the past. Yet local government has the potential to play an even greater role in Irish life.

To reach its potential local government needs to be strengthened to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. These include:

Continued population growth and balanced regional development
Tackling social exclusion and integrating new communities
Improved environmental management in areas such as waste, water quality, built and natural heritage protection, and the challenges of climate change
Ensuring greater connection between local government and local people.

We live in a more complex and sophisticated world than ever before. Central government is not best placed to respond to every issue faced by local communities. We therefore need to give local government greater freedom and capacity to tackle local issues locally, working on its own initiative and in partnership with other local and State agencies.

We also live in a world which is more connected then ever before. Decisions taken locally must be at one with our national and global obligations to combat climate change and to make Ireland a much more environmentally sustainable country.

Solving the dual ambition of, at once, providing greater local autonomy while ensuring consistency with national policy goes to the heart of the debate on this next phase in the evolution of local government.

The Programme for Government committed to make local government more transparent and more responsive to its customers. This Green Paper – Stronger Local Democracy – Options for Change proposes that these aims can be achieved through strengthened local democratic leadership. It sets out options that will be of interest to every local community. Many of the options will elicit a lively debate. That is how it should be. Healthy local democracy goes to the heart of the well-being of our nation.

I look forward to the debate on these options and to hearing the views of as many people as possible before bringing forward settled Government proposals for reform in a White Paper.