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Gormley to strengthen the democratic leadership of Irish Local Government

22/04/08

New Mayor for Dublin Region

“Green Paper seeks accountable decision making and quality local service delivery” – John Gormley


“My ideal of local government is straightforward - it should be democratic, accountable and provide quality services as close to the citizen as possible,” said Mr John Gormley T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister was speaking today (22 April) at the launch of the Green Paper on local government, Stronger Local Democracy - Options for Change.

“Stronger Local Democracy presents a set of options for change which share a strong common theme of renewing local democratic leadership. Local government in Ireland is capable of doing much more to meet the needs of local communities. The options presented in this paper suggest how we might achieve that stronger local government system,” said the Minister.

The Green Paper proposes the introduction of a Regional Mayor for Dublin, elected directly by the people of Dublin, with strategic functions including planning, housing, waste, water provision and waste water disposal. The paper proposes that the Mayor would act as Chair of the Dublin Transport Authority.

Stronger Local Democracy also makes the case that greater local leadership, accountability and connection with the citizen can be achieved through the provision of directly elected mayors for all counties and cities.

The possibility of introducing revised structures for local governance for key Gateways, such as Limerick, Waterford and Sligo, is also considered. Examples of revised structures include unitary authorities for county and city, a single elected mayor to lead both county and city, or cross-boundary metropolitan mayors.

The Paper proposes that town government can be strengthened by allowing for greater devolution of local decisions from county to town level, within overall county level strategies.

A range of initiatives are discussed to allow local people to play a greater role in local decision making, including local plebiscites, petition rights, participatory budgeting and town meetings.

Stronger Local Democracy stresses the need for continuous change, flexibility and imagination in service delivery. Greater movement towards the sharing services between local authorities is also advocated.

The Paper also sets out the issues for debate on the financing of local government which will feed into the work of the recently established Commission on Taxation.

Options for the introduction of local election spending limits are proposed, as is greater oversight of local government ethics compliance by the Standards in Public Office Commission.

“Stronger Local Democracy presents options for discussion and consideration,” said Minister Gormley. “The wider that discussion the better. I am anxious that all interests have the time to examine and reflect on the options presented and I will welcome all constructive views.”

“I believe that we have an opportunity now to transform the relationship between our institutions of local government and the local community. There are advantages to be gained by having a stronger local government sector which allows central government to focus on issues of national and strategic importance. I believe this paper shows the direction we need to travel to achieve those aims,” concluded the Minister.

END

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Note for Editors
Following the publication of Stronger Local Democracy – Options for Change, work will begin on a White Paper to be finalised later this year. To inform the drafting of the White Paper, a major consultation process will be held in the coming months, which will regional seminars.

Stronger Local Democracy – Options for Change is available on the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government’s website (click here).


Annex
Stronger Local Democracy – Options for Change
Key Proposals

Background - Commitment in Programme for Government
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to reform local government to make it more transparent and more responsive to its customers. Stronger Local Democracy - Options for Change is intended as a discussion document, to generate a wide debate on the future of local government. It presents an opportunity to reshape local government so that it is fit for purpose for the challenges ahead.

The central theme of Stronger Local Democracy – Options for Change is that local government can deliver more if equipped to do so. It suggests that the sector can be strengthened by providing a greater role for local, democratic and responsible leadership.

A Mayor for the Dublin Region
Dublin, as a highly successful urban centre, faces a number of strategic challenges in areas including planning, transport, housing, waste, water provision and waste water disposal. It is therefore proposed that a regional mayor for Dublin with defined strategic functions should be introduced. The role of the mayor in relation to current and future institutional arrangements needs careful consideration, particularly in regard to the 4 Dublin local authorities, the adjoining local authorities, and national offices. It is proposed, for example, that the Dublin mayor should become the Chair of the proposed Dublin Transport Authority. Detailed consideration will need to be given to the administrative and institutional supports necessary for the proper functioning of a mayoral office in Dublin.

Directly Elected Mayors in other Cities and Counties
Stronger Local Democracy – Options for Change considers that greater local leadership, accountability and connection with the citizen can be achieved through the provision of directly elected mayors for all counties and cities. As a complementary measure, the chairs of each local authority’s Strategic Policy Committees should be elected for the full term of the council.

The managerial system has served Irish local government well and local authorities will continue to rely on professional managers to provide impartial, professional administration and guidance. It is suggested, however, that mayors might be assigned certain key powers of initiative (annual budget, development plan etc) and that, over time, their role in overseeing the work of the local authorities, local development agencies and national agencies at local level should evolve further.

Greater devolution of decision making to town councils
In examining town government, Stronger Local Democracy – Options for Change examines the principles of efficient service provision and the democratic legitimacy provided by town councils. The establishment of new town councils would need careful consideration having regard to the potential impact on resources and efficient service delivery. In terms of functions, measures such as the empowerment of existing town councils through devolved decision making and the negotiated transfer of functions from county to town level are proposed for examination. Measures such as participatory budgeting, binding local plebiscites and town meetings could also be developed to foster direct, meaningful contact between councils and the citizen.

Improved Customer Service
The culture of continuous change is stressed, as is the need for local government flexibility and imagination in service delivery. Greater movement towards the sharing of services is advocated. Local authorities have many achievements which should be better showcased. Elected mayors will be important in raising the profile of achievement.

Possible new political structures in other key Gateways
The establishment of a mayoral office in Dublin, with a regional remit, suggests that consideration should be given to revised structures for local governance in other key Gateways, such as Limerick, Waterford and Sligo, to overcome fragmentation of local authority responsibilities while respecting county boundaries. These could include unitary authorities, mayors common to county and city authorities or cross-boundary metropolitan mayors.

Need for greater local decision making
A relationship of trust between central and local government is advocated, in which central government can, in time, transfer appropriate functions and responsibilities to local control. Stronger Local Democracy – Options for Change also suggests that the local government sector could work more effectively in a collective way to further the aims of strong local government. Also addressed are issues such as local authority boundaries, the Local Government Commission and the numbers of councillors.

Local Government Financing
The need for proper funding of local government is recognised. Autonomy in fund raising increases local discretion and accountability. However, there is little consensus on how best to achieve such autonomy. This is an issue which will receive in depth analysis in the context of the recently established Commission on Taxation, which is to consider the issue of local government financing.

An Improved Ethics Regime
Stronger Local Democracy – Options for Change also suggests the need for greater cohesion between local government law and general ethics legislation. A clearer oversight role for the Standards in Public Office Commission is proposed. It is recommended that local electoral expenditure limits should be introduced but that the bureaucracy involved in any new procedures should be kept to a minimum.

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