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Fianna Fail propose retention of town councils. Photo: The Avondhu

As the Government's plan for local Government reform was debated in the Dail this week, Fianna Fail launched an alternative - one they described as 'radical' to enhance local Government, including the retention of town councils.

Under the Government's 'Putting People First' plan, town councils around the country - 11 of them in Cork, including Fermoy - are set to be abolished next year.

Fianna Fail proposes not only to keep them but to enhance them in towns with a population of over 7,500. New voluntary community councils to represent areas with no town councils are also proposed. They want local referendums on major local issues such as local area plans and a new Cabinet-style system to replace council policy groups, offering, they say, greater accountability and a greater role in shaping local policy.

New anti-corruption plans, measures to provide transparency on planning issues, mandatory declaration of interest and a greater role for the Standards in Public Office committee in local Government are also included in the proposals.

Cork north west deputy Michael Moynihan said at the launch of the plan this week that Cork needs a stronger voice, not a weaker one. "Instead of abolishing town councils and moving Cork communities further away from the decision-making process we need to empower our communities and enhance local democracy." The Fianna Fail plan would see the radical transformation of local government to ensure Cork communities have a stronger voice and greater input into decisions made on their behalf, he asserted.

The opposition party's plan seems moot with the Government, given its majority, assured of getting it's Local Government 2013 Bill, now at second stage, through the Dail. Besides, many may wonder, why did the party take so long in coming up with alternative proposals?

They're not the only ones advocating retention of town councils at this late stage. This week the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland also called for town councils to be reformed instead of abolished and said the Bill is a "missed opportunity at genuine reform of local Government."

The new measures, claims the representative body of town and county council members throughout Ireland, will further centralise power away from local communities and take away control of their own finances. Without financial autonomy it says, the new Municipal Districts cannot exercise their functions.

Following the defeat of the referendum to abolish the Seanad, the AMAI wrote to Minister Phil Hogan and to the Constitutional Convention itself demanding the legislation be postponed to allow time for local government reform to be fully considered by the Convention and reform proposals developed. The Minister didn't respond to them.

Most town councils though appear resigned to their fate and it has given rise, in some instances, to an air of apathy and sense of winding down. It's highly unlikely that the familiar faces of Fermoy Town Council members will be seen sitting around the crescent-shaped table in the council chambers come June next year.

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