TOT

In one of the most radical changes to local government, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has announced plans to reduce the number of city and county councils, change the role of local representatives in the planning process and reform local authority funding.  

Under the plan, the existing 114 councils across the State will be rationalised into 31 bodies, with a total of 80 town councils to be merged into new “municipal districts”, in an attempt to create a more efficient local government system. 

The number of council seats is to fall by 42 per cent, from the current figure of 1,627 to 950. 

The power of councillors to overturn the decisions of planning officials will also be abolished. Section 140 of the Local Government Act will be put to an end so that councillors will no longer be allowed to direct officials in respect of planning functions. 

The step has been taken in the light of evidence given to the Mahon tribunal regarding corruption among councillors in the planning process. 

The plan says there will be a rebalancing of representation nationally and greater “equality of representation between local electoral areas within counties”.

Many of the reforms are to be introduced in time for the 2014 local elections. 

The plan states that services administered by local authorities will in future be funded through a new local property tax, in “a move designed to strengthen local responsibility for decision-making by authorities”. 

The plan also sets out an enhanced role for local authorities in relation to economic development and enterprise support, with economic development plans to form part of city and council development plans and one-stop-shops for business support to be provided through new Local Enterprise Offices.