Local democracy task force
Deputy Healy asks when the promised local democracy task force will be established and whether communities will be represented; the Taoiseach supports restoring stronger town-level democratic structures.
Local government is the heartbeat of democracy. The Fine Gael–Labour Party Government abolished borough councils and town councils in 2014 and replaced them with committees that had no power, no functions and no money. I think it is already accepted by almost everybody, including the former leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin, that it was a very bad decision. The programme for Government commits to the establishment of a local democracy task force. Will the Taoiseach please outline when this task force will be set up and if he will ensure local community voices are represented on it and ensure the terms of reference will include the re-establishment of town and borough councils?
Comment on this
There is a commitment in the programme for Government in relation to municipal authorities in towns over a certain population threshold. I had good time for Brendan Howlin, formerly of this House, on many issues, but he led the charge on this matter and subsequently sort of had regrets. From a democracy perspective, I believe local town councils and town commissioners were important. Very often, they were the first step on the ladder to political participation and representation. I happen, therefore, to believe in this, but, obviously, I will talk to the Minister in terms of the timelines for legislation to give effect to the commitments in the programme for Government.