Last Saturday Tim Pat Coogan writing in the Irish Times had a number of side swipes at Local City and County Councillors. In what is a regular journalistic device to appear balanced he allocated blame for our current economic crisis to all Politicians and remarkably included a culling of Councillors as being part of the answer. I accept neither proposal.

Blaming our City and County Councillors for our current economic mess is akin to blaming the ticket seller in Cobh for the sinking of the Titanic.

While I will leave it to National Politicians to respond to his remarks about the Dail and Seanad I cannot allow his unfounded and factually incorrect statements about Local Government in this country to go unchallenged.

Far from having a surfeit of Local Councillors, the facts show that Ireland has the second lowest proportion of Councillor per head of population in the entire European Union. This is particularly so in Dublin.

The figures i.e. the facts, demonstrate that the average ratio across the EU range from:

118 per head of population per Councillor in France,
250 per head of population in Sweden and 350 in Germany.
This rises to 610 in Spain and 1100 per head of population in Greece and Belgium.
Here in Ireland the figure is one Councillor to every 2,336 people.
Only the United Kingdom has a higher ratio with one Councillor to every 2,603 per head of population. However in that case no account is taken for the representative roles of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Regional Assemblies which significantly alters the real figures.

In my own ward of Pembroke-Rathmines – the largest in the Country – the figure is an astonishing, one Councillor for every 10,000 people.

As a part time Councillor, with none of the resources available to an Oireachtas member, I try to represent my Constituents to the best of my ability. To suggest that the number of Councillors be reduced does no service to Ireland or the needs of Dublin -our collective Capital City.
We need reform not a populist appeal to reduce the number of representatives. In fact in order to achieve any sort of equality of representation for the people of Dublin there should be a significant increase – not a decrease in the number of Councillors.
However in these financially challenged times I know that is not going to happen.

So how do we make progress?

I would welcome a real debate about the future of our Local Government system. I wish this could have happened with the publication by Government of the White Paper on Local Government reform prior to the next Local Elections. However the deep hostility – both Departmental and Political – to such reform precluded that.

The unending belief of central Government both permanent and temporary in their own infallibility has ensured that much needed reforms remain in the same storage points as the unwanted e-voting machines the same Department gave us.
Despite the fact that we share a Constituency I genuinely wish the Minister John Gormley well in this task of achieving real reform. I share his aspirations and don’t doubt the battle he will face.
Can I also say at this point that it has often amazed me that given their fixation with the latest Junket by Councillors and despite receiving over E160 million a year the State Broadcasting Service – RTE still has no Local Government Correspondent. Their willingness to lazily cover the attendance of Councillors at some conference – always a junket in their eyes – is about as close to covering Local Government as we can expect from the cozy cartel of commentators operating from their even cozier perch in my own Parish of Donnybrook.
While I welcome the fact that RTE Nuacht and TG4 have recently made such an appointment here today I again call on RTE, OUR Public Service Broadcaster, to appoint a Local Government Correspondent.
It is interesting that once again initiative and innovation has come from outside the narrow confines of Montrose and from the far more in touch and creative TG4.
I have no objection to Local Government being criticized. I do object to it being criticized from a position of ignorance.
Quite simply the “Commentariat” in RTE neither understand nor care about Local Government. Their reporting of the Local Elections will inevitably centre on what it means for the Political Parties at a General Election or whose son, daughter, nephew or niece will inherit the “family” seat.
So we can expect little from them in terms of advancing the debate and our agenda for Reform.
And yet,
The case for reform is all around us.

For me Local Government matters. In terms of planning, housing, community development, provision of accessible recreational, cultural and sporting opportunities it is very often the first point of call. It has a record in all these and in Education – through the VEC structure that is second to absolutely no other body in Ireland.

The fact that it has been starved of funding over the last decade should not obscure that fact.
Incredibly during what were our “Celtic Tiger” years Local Governed finances have been plundered by Central Government. Far from Dublin City Council been supported by Government we in fact transfer more money to it than the other way round. From income collected through Motor Taxes we transfer more than we receive through the Local Government Fund. Government itself has decided it will not pay Commercial Rates on their Offices at a cost to Dublin City last year of approximately E28million and the costs of implementing the Benchmarking agreement amounted to E76million – none of which was contributed by the same Government that ordered us to pay it.
So I agree with the Minister when he said that independent finance raising powers are essential if we are to achieve real Local Government. However Dublin is still entitled to its fair share of National Revenue.
While the detail of any reform is extensive the essentials are not. For me if it is to be in any way meaningful reform must include:
• An Independent source of funding for Local Authorities and not subject to the whims of the Department of the Environment.
• Reform of the City and County Managers Act creating a new post of Chief Executive Officer – accountable to and appointed by the relevant Local Authority following recruitment through the Public Appointments Commission.
• A directly elected Mayor of Dublin with a five year term and accountable to an enhanced Dublin Regional Authority.
• The extension of the role of the Dublin Regional Authority to include Transport and Planning and subsuming bodies such as the Dublin Transport Authority and the Affordable Housing Partnership.
• Real controls and limitations on electoral spending at local elections and an ethical framework that is robust and just.
These are but the bare essentials of any reform package.

Reform must also provide for greater public engagement in our democratic process. Regular Town Hall type meetings at which Local Councillors would engage with their constituents on relevant matters should be an easy step to initiate more or less immediately. We are often told that the answer is through the process more commonly known as Participative Democracy.
It is not a view I share. Participative Democracy has been used to co-opt but not empower citizens. It pretends that citizens have power while real power remains with the elite. Often it allows for very unrepresentative voices to exercise disproportionate influence over decision making.
It is a concept beloved by those who manage the Local Government system or those who observe it from an academic standpoint. As a Practitioner I believe it leads to less empowerment and the protection of vested interests. It de politicizes politics when we need to energize real politics and present real choices and is in my view a step backwards.
It is my strong view that we need to strengthen Representative Democracy.
Reform must also include a serious review of our Planning Laws. We need to provide for genuine public participation. The development of a planning framework to provide for pre-planning consultation and the abolition of the Planning Observation fee would be key ingredients of such an approach. It strikes me as reprehensible and against everything that the Aarhus Convention that we charge people for engaging in the planning process. It also angers me that as an elected representative I have had to spend well over E1, 000 over the last year or so defending the City Development Plan and the well being of the area and of Dublin. That in itself I would submit is a direct attack on the democratic process and the Minister should review it. It should also be the case that when you win at An Bord Pleanala you should have your fee returned.
I sought election many years ago to improve my local community and because I enjoyed the cut and thrust of political life. I have never regretted my decision and my belief that local government is the best model to deliver real reform to Irish Society has intensified over those years. The Public need and deserve a better system. It is time for those who agree with me to, Stand up for Democracy, Stand up for Local Government and in my case Stand up for Dublin.”

Speech to the Local Authority Members’ Association

I welcome this opportunity to engage with my fellow Councillors on a topic that is dear to my heart and to which I am absolutely committed. I want to thank LAMA for their invitation.

However I would be dishonest if I did not put on record my disappointment that LAMA, despite being invited by the Minister, did not participate in the Consultative Committee. I believe that it represented a missed opportunity to seriously engage on this issue and to put forward the legitimate needs of Councillors as part of the reform process.

In particular those of us who were advocating for increased resources for Councillors could have done with additional voices of support around the table.

Can I also acknowledge at the outset that I do not claim to be an expert on this issue? There are far too many people, in this room and elsewhere, who know far more about Local Government than I ever will. What I do have is a passionate belief that the ordinary things that matter to ordinary people can be best dealt with through a reformed and revitalized Local Government system. I simply bring my experience to the table and look forward to a lively and challenging debate ahead.

Initially, of course, this session was meant to be a sort of reflection on the Green Paper which was due to be published last January, then February, then March and now April. The delay I believe reflects the real hostility at Government level from both the permanent Government in the Civil Service as well as at a Political level to real reform.

Despite the fact that we share a Constituency I genuinely wish the Minister well in this task. I share his aspirations and don’t doubt the battle he will face.

At the outset can I say that it has often amazed me that given their fixation with the latest Junket by Councillors and despite receiving over €160 million a year the State Broadcasting Service – RTE still has
no Local Government Correspondent. Their willingness to lazily cover the attendance of Councillors at some conference – always a junket in their eyes – is about as close to covering Local Government as we can expect
from the cozy cartel of commentators operating from their even cozier perch in my own Parish of Donnybrook. Here today I again call on RTE - our Public Service Broadcaster – to appoint a Local Government Correspondent.  I have no objection to Local Government being criticized. I do object to
it being criticized from a position of ignorance.

Quite simply the Commentariat in RTE neither understand nor care about Local Government. So we can expect little from them in terms of advancing the debate and our agenda for Reform.

And yet: The case for reform is all around us and we as Councillors must be at the front line in advancing that cause.

We need real reform, real power and real responsibility. Local Government is the poor relation of the Irish political system. It is badly resourced, underfinanced and often ignored.

However before joining the mob in criticizing Local Government we should first celebrate our success.

The hugely credible record of Local Government in the provision of quality housing, developing our Library system, maintaining Public Parks and providing a broad range of community facilities and services is
second to none.

Through the VEC structure Local Government has been imaginative, innovative and progressive in the field of Education. Indeed I would argue far more imaginative, innovative and progressive than the Department Mandarins have ever achieved operating as they do far from the front line in their bunkers in The Custom House and Marlborough Street.

Far from being limited in its vision, Local Government has provided Ireland with an energy that is only limited by a blinkered Department of State and a central Government obsessed with controlling all.

Instead of supporting Local Government we have a Department of State that despite its lofty title of “Environment, Heritage and Local Government” is, in my opinion, clearly ill-disposed to the first two and
actively hostile to the third. The record is there for all to see.

We were told that the “Better Local Government” policy was the way forward. We were told that Government had a plan for effective reform and that, as always, it was “on the way”.

As a long standing advocate of reform I only wish that they did have a plan. To put it mildly, in recent years we have not been blessed by Ministers who actually believed in their title Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
It is fair to acknowledge that in recent years Brendan Howlin followed by Noel Dempsey made tentative steps in the area. However the hard work and commitment of both Ministers was thwarted by a coalition of
backbenchers and bureaucrats. Of course any real reform will need Councilors themselves to take more responsibility.

As a Dublin City Councillor since 1993, and particularly during my time as Lord Mayor, I have consistently argued for reform and acted in the best interests of the City when faced with difficult choices. Sadly,
despite repeated assertions to the contrary, the record of recent Governments has been entirely in the other direction.

Removals of powers, relating to traffic, to planning matters and the making of the Development Plan have been the order of the day.

Powers in relation to waste charges, control of the Taxi industry – and the list could go on have all been removed in recent years.

We are told this is happening because local Councilors will not exercise their responsibilities. We are told this by a Department of State that has failed to tackle our Housing crisis will not tackle our environmental  problems and recently wasted over E60million in an e-voting experiment that nobody asked for and even less people want.

Every six months I ask the same question of the Dublin City Manager. What powers have been transferred to Dublin City Council since June 1997 and what powers have been transferred from the Council in the same
period? The list of powers removed is almost triple the powers the Council has gained. This pattern is repeated on every Council across the State.

The much hyped Constitutional recognition of Local Government has been referred to as some sort of progress. The reality however is that it is primarily a meaningless sop designed to conceal a pattern of
destruction. If Deputy Michael Ring proved anything in his abortive challenge to the Dual Mandate ban it was to show just how weak the Constitutional recognition really is.

Funding for Local Government remains deeply inadequate and, despite the boom Celtic Tiger years, has actually decreased in real terms. The “wide ranging independent study of Local Government funding” promised by the last two Ministers was binned within minutes of its publication. More recently we have had the appointment of the Commission on Taxation.

Incredibly despite having Local Government Funding included in its terms of reference there is not a single Local Elected Representative or even a former Local Elected Representative as a member. How can we take
Government commitments to reform seriously when on this fundamental issue no regard is taken of the Local Government sector?

All of this takes place at a time when in Dublin City alone we are owed over €200million from central Government funds for the year 2006 alone. The same proportionately applies to every single Council across the Country.

This fundamental issue of finance must be central to any reform package.  Governance without an  independent source of financing is not governance at all. It is simply administration, at local level, of central
Government policies.

It often strikes me that the Social Partners are quite happy to criticize our role as Councillors and members of Local Authorities yet they are never prepared to assume any responsibility. Well let’s try them. It is quite simply time that in relation to Local Government activities, services and expenditure that they either put up or shut up.

In my view there is a need for a National Forum on Funding of Local Government. Such a Forum would be charged, with agreeing a consensus approach on the issue. The Forum would be comprised of the Social
Partners, the main Political Parties and the Councillor Representative bodies. There would be an opportunity to contribute for the wider public and it would be given a maximum of twelve months to report.

The Forum could consider either a national and common approach to the funding issue or, as I would prefer, a range of options that could be determined, as appropriate by local elected Councils. These could include everything from a tourist or hotel bed levy, planning enforcement charges, a variable income or sales tax and so on.

Real responsibility will then rest with local Councillors who will also have real flexibility in how to spend the money. Local Government is best placed, if allowed, to tackle the key issues of housing, traffic/transport, planning, community services and policing.

On all these I believe that Local Government could deliver more efficiently, more swiftly and more economically to local communities. Instead of each City or County Council having to prepare a set of
housing plans, which must then be assessed by another team of architects based in the Custom House, let responsibility remain at local level.  Time saved and money saved. Instead of the Dublin Director of Traffic
having to consult with over thirty different agencies before a decision can be taken let such decisions be taken at elected Council level. Instead of National Lottery funding allocations being processed at National level by Government it would make far more sense, within general allocation rules, if these decisions could be made by those who understand the needs of an area through the extensive local government system.

The same principle applies to policing, planning, education and so on. In most European countries these matters are the preserve of Local Government. Here they are either the responsibility of Government
Departments or unaccountable Quangos. There is no reason to believe that National knows best.

However such a widening of functions cannot be achieved under our present structures. Our present system belongs to the 19th century. Ireland has changed dramatically since the map of local government was
drawn over one hundred years ago. Any new structures should recognize that fact. Local Government needs to be remapped to be based on the real living space of citizens and reflect the actual communities in which
they live. In some areas and particularly the larger urban areas this will require Regional Bodies to which members would be directly elected.
These new structures should then be truly responsible for the design and delivery of services within their respective areas. All Public bodies and State agencies active, or inactive as the case may be, should be
accountable to these democratically elected Councils. Not alone would this be good for the areas concerned and for the principle of subsidiarity, it would also have the side effect of releasing space for the Oireachtas to deal with the issues of national strategic importance that should be its remit.

We have often been told that there have been reforms. That “Better Local Government” has given us Area Committees, Strategic Policy Committees and City and County Development Boards. That is true – except we did not ask for them. Yes, Area Committees are effective if all you want to do is protect your patch, or look after your immediate Parish or community.  But they have a negative effect in terms of developing a sense of
responsibility for the wider City or County.

The so called Strategic Policy Committees are simply a waste of time and space. Sadly in my opinion, that is exactly what the Department wants. Let me give some simple examples. On the Traffic and Transport Committee of Dublin City the law forbids us from including Dublin Bus or the Gardai as members.

On the Environment and Engineering Committee we cannot propose amendments to the Waste Management Plan. On the Arts, Culture and Youth Committee we have no input or opportunity to question the Department of Education on any of the issues for which it is responsible. I could go on.

Significantly of course all of this is overseen by a Managerial system in which Councillors have no hand act or part in the appointment of the Manager. Can you imagine any scenario in which the Board of Directors of
a Company had no say in the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer or a Managing Director?

So what do I want? In Dublin I want to see a directly elected Mayor for the Dublin Region who would serve for the full term. I want to see a Dublin Regional Assembly and I want to see real devolution of powers.  Such powers would be devolved downwards from the Quangos and the State Institutions rather than, as is far too often advocated, be transferred from the lower tier Councils.

In relation to existing Mayoral and County Council Chairpersons I believe that these should be retained as at present. There is a role for an annual election and the operation of a Civic leadership and host type role. The Dublin Region and, perhaps others, needs a directly elected longer term Mayor. It could be fairly argued that Longford or Leitrim does not. Such a format can be repeated, as appropriate, across the country.

In this respect also we need to see the Managerial system fundamentally reformed with the Manager to operate more as a Chief Executive Officer and the interfering hand of the Department of the Environment removed from any role in their appointment.

Some people believe that the role of Local Government is to implement the policies of the so-called Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I do not. It is my job to do all that is best for our City and Citizens. It is my job to “Stand up for Dublin”, not to regurgitate the failed views and policies imposed from the Custom House. The same applies to Councillors representing other parts of the country
in respect of your areas. However we need the resources to do that job.

The next Local Elections take place in a little less than fifteen months time. This time should not be wasted and lost as the last number of years have been. The Government should grasp the nettle, seek the support of the opposition parties and introduce a vibrant, independent and relevant Local Government system.

In particular the Government can and should introduce limits on the expenditure allowed at Local Elections. It should not be possible to buy a Council seat. Quite simply if such limits on expenditure are deemed
suitable for Dail elections they are equally appropriate for Local Government.

I have great hope for the future of Local Government. A failed series of Ministers and an obdurate Department cannot block reform forever. Local Government can work and will deliver – if it is allowed to. Will central Government ever have the will to release the energy that is there at local level or will the Mandarins forever believe in their own over riding competence as they continue to fail the people?

The media too can play their part. More accurate and informed coverage of Council affairs would be a start. As I said at the outset RTE for example should consider the appointment of a Local Government Correspondent.

The rest of the media could also start engaging Councillors on issues of relevance and not just on the latest “junket”.

In my experience we have, here in Ireland, the most accessible and yet maligned elected representatives in western society – the City, Town and County Councillor.

Does Local Government work? Clearly it works better than it is given credit for, far better than one could expect from the resources and powers allocated, but far short of what it is capable of.

I am proud of the service that the vast majority of Councillors have given to our Country. I will be far happier when we are given the power, the structures and the resources to deliver more.

Ronan Mullen is correct. There I have said it. Yes, this Dublin 4 Liberal agrees with Ronan Mullen ( The Irish Catholic 3rd January)  when in the course of a recent Seanad debate he said that “Communities must solve drugs problem” and that “we have to acknowledge that there is a deep social and cultural malaise at the heart of this issue”. The recent untimely death of several young people from drug abuse has brought the tragedy and horror of this most ugly form of human abuse to the top of the media agenda. It must now become the top of all of our agendae as a community. As the cold blooded murder of Veronica Guerin stung Government into action, we must grasp recent events as an opportunity to finally tackle the problem of drug abuse in our country. We need first of all to ensure that it remains at the top of the media and Government’s priority list for action.

It is not often that I laud Michael Mc Dowell, so in another break from my South Dublin, politically correct background, can I say that the former Minister for Justice was also right when he said that the cocaine
sniffing, middle classes in their posh addresses are as culpable in the deaths of the pushers and unfortunate addicts as if they had pulled the trigger themselves.

So what can we do as a community? How can we all help in ridding Ireland of the scourge of drug abuse? How can we offer young people in particular a better tomorrow? I do not claim to have all the answers.
There are others more skilled and more involved than I who have been working “on the ground” dealing with what is a crisis facing our country. I salute them and the work of the Local Drugs Task Forces who have, for years, been working with limited resources towards tackling this problem. They are the heroes of the modern Ireland and truly worthy of the title “Celebrity” in modern Ireland.

I offer only this contribution for what its worth.

First of all I believe that there has to be a Zero Tolerance in relation to Drug distribution. The owners of Pubs and Clubs in which it is known that Drugs are widely available should be hauled before the Courts and
if found Guilty of allowing such activities on their premises be shut down. If necessary a new law dealing with this should be introduced. The penalty must relate to the severity of the crisis. Lives are at stake.

Secondly, the powers and resources of the Criminal Assets Bureau must be strengthened. In addition the proceeds seized by the CAB must be visibly redirected towards the communities that have most suffered from the problem of Drug Abuse. This should not just mean Communities of Place but also Communities of People. Young People and Youth Organizations should directly benefit from the assets seized. We need to stop drugs getting into this country and if necessary give additional powers and resources to Customs Officials. Lives are at stake.

Thirdly, support for Youth and Community Organizations should be massively increased. The cost of maintaining one young person in a Penal Institution is approximately €110, 000 per annum. Surely, a monumental bad use of resources? To put it in context the Government Grant to the 39,000 member Scouting Ireland in 2005 was approximately €1.1million. That equates to the cost of keeping ten young people in detention. How much better for all in our society if resources were targeted earlier and spent on prevention, education and recreation and not, when it is often too late, the cure? This is particularly so as all the evidence shows that the detention of young people is often counter productive and usually leaves even to more wasted and lost lives.

Fourthly there must be considerable reform in the way Policing in Ireland operates. We must get back to the situation in which the Gardai and the Community are at one in a common fight against crime and intimidation. Local Gardai Committees, strengthening of the role of the Community Garda, real dialogue at community level in each Garda Station must become the norm and not the exception.

Fifthly, every support should be given to the Local Drugs Task Forces in their daily battle with this problem. We need to ensure that sufficient resources are given to all the agencies working to assist Recovering
Addicts and those who wish to come off drugs. I am proud of the fact that it was a Labour Minister, Pat Rabbitte, who initiated and developed the National Drugs Strategy and I believe we have been fortunate in the
Ministers who have succeeded him in that portfolio. I also believe that in the present Minister Pat Carey we have someone who is dedicated and committed to doing all he can on this issue. He needs more support
across the Political divide to ensure that he has all the resources he needs to deliver progress. This is not, nor should it be a Party Political issue. We need to work together on this and we need to ensure that the true Christian message of “tough love” is applied. We need to enable those who wish to leave drugs behind to build a new life for themselves.

Sixthly, but perhaps above all we need a significant shift in the media’s attitude to young people and so called “celebrities”. We need to value and laud the good work and community endeavour carried out by so
many and recognized by so few. We must begin to confer the “celebrity” tag on the Youth Club Leader, the local Football, Hurling or Hockey Club Managers and the young people involved in environmental, cultural and community work throughout our country. The young people who give of their time working in their communities or simply enjoying the normal pursuits of the young deserve our support and our praise. We need new role models for young people and we need those who work with young people to be acknowledged as having a role to play and that their voice will be heard. We need to see the President of the National Youth
Council or the Head of the Girl Guide Movement to be as regular as Panelist on Questions and Answers as Nell Mc Cafferty or Eamon Dunphy. We need to see the World Scout Jamboree that will take place in Ireland
next August to be covered, not in terms of the “ten miles of sausages” type approach so beloved by the media but by reporting on the adventurous engagement in activities by ten thousand young people in a
spirit of Fun, Friendship and Challenge. In the immortal words of Bill Clinton I still believe in a place called Hope. I still believe in young people. It is the “adults” who worry me.

Dermot Lacey is President of Donnybrook Scout Group and a former Lord Mayor of Dublin.

The decision by An Bord Pleanala to grant permission for the development of an Incinerator at Poolbeg flew in the face of all the evidence given at the Oral Hearing and of all logic. Disgracefully it showed contempt for the interests of the local community and sadly it confirmed once again that we do not have a democratic Local Government system in this country. It also demonstrated that we do not have a coherent and  integrated National Waste Strategy but simply a string of local actions hung together by expediency.

For very good reasons the local community opposed this development. They recognized the need to reclaim Dublin Bay for the people of Dublin. They correctly foresaw the impact the huge increase in traffic would have on the local area. Above all the local community saw the folly of developing a huge Industrial complex in an area that in all other respects the Local Authority and the State are trying to develop in a sustainable way. When one considers the massive investment in the new Waste Treatment Plant that has successfully cleaned up Dublin Bay and ally that to the huge investment through the Dublin Docklands Development Master Plan the folly of installing what is in affect a huge Industrial Plant – twice the size of Croke Park shines through. However, as in so many aspects of Irish life, the “experts” who do not have to live with the results of their “expertise” knew best. The Incinerator was pushed through despite the hard practical  evidence.

If we are to avail of Incineration in Ireland – and I have an open mind on that – we must have a degree of honesty and transparency in our decision making. We must bring the community along with us. We must
trust people to come to a balanced decision and we must inform them in advance of the issues. None of this happened in relation to Poolbeg. The siting of any such Incinerator must reflect a common sense approach and generate public trust. The Poolbeg Incinerator achieves neither. It is my view that any such Incinerator should be built on the route of the proposed outer Ring route beyond the M50.  Plan it now and build it now
before people move in. Plan it now and build it now so that all of the new infrastructure along the route can be developed in the context of an existing Incinerator. Design it and build it in the context of an overarching environmentally enhancing plan that will protect the wider Dublin Region while still providing the Incinerator we are told is required.

The proposal to locate an Incinerator at Poolbeg has been opposed at every step of the way by the elected members of Dublin City Council. To describe it as a Dublin City Council project is a travesty of the truth
and a confirmation of the need for radical reform of Local Government. The Waste Management Plan adopted by the City Council in 1998 provided for an examination of Incineration. Contrary to the misrepresentations
since then it did not agree to Incineration and nor did it agree on a proposed location. The Plan was also adopted at a time when the decision on adoption, amendment or rejection of a Waste Management Plan was in the hands of the elected Councillors. Shamefully that power was removed in subsequent legislation.

Opposition to the Incinerator at Poolbeg is not a case of NIMBYism. Though, no doubt, those of us opposed to the project, we will be accused of that. Poolbeg is actually the site of the old City Dump. Ringsend and
Sandymount have taken the city’s dirt for far too many years already. As one Dublin MEP memorably stated “it is not a case that we do not want a dump in the area but rather that the dump is full.” As Lord Mayor of
Dublin some years I demonstrated my willingness to take tough and unpopular decisions on Waste Strategy when they were the right decisions. Locating this plant at Poolbeg is however the wrong approach.

The question as to why any proposed Incinerator should be sited at Poolbeg has never been addressed. City and County Management, no doubt heavily influenced by the Mandarins in the Custom House, simply took the easy option of availing of lands they owned at Poolbeg. No alternatives were ever put forward. No justification as to why that site should be the chosen one. It was a case of “we have decided that Poolbeg in
suitable and that is that.”

The battle against the Incinerator will go on. We will oppose the issuing of a license to the project by the Environmental Protection Agency. We will review all legal options open to us and we will mobilize the local community to ensure that Minister John Gormley uses his alleged influence in Government to deliver to the people of Dublin South East and the people of Dublin. The abandonment of this unwanted and unnecessary Incinerator would be the right decision for Dublin and the right decision for a Green Waste Management Strategy.”

Dermot Lacey is a Labour Party member of Dublin City Council, a former Lord Mayor of Dublin and Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of the Dublin Regional Authority.

“Scouting in Ireland needs to be relevant or redundant” according to the former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Dermot Lacey.

Addressing the  4th National Council of the new merged Scouting Ireland, Councillor Lacey said that “as Scouting begins a second century it needs to be central to the local communities and be a voice for and on behalf of young people.”

“Scouting – Boys and girls, young men and young women. Rich and Poor. North and South, City and Country. All backgrounds, all faiths – All Scouts. What an incredible success story – unequalled by any other
similar body in Ireland or abroad.”

“In my view one of the best things about the new Ireland is the vibrancy, honesty and confidence of our young people. They are full of enthusiasm. Eager to learn. Capable of greatness. And heavily influenced
in their formative years by what they see around them”

“And what do young people see today? They see that Ireland is a prosperous country with more retail space per head of population than any other country in Europe. Incredibly we have more mobile phones than we have people. As a nation, we are spending more on consumer goods than ever before. Despite working hard, or indeed perhaps because we are working harder, we have less time for the things that matter. “I’m alright Jack” as a motto for the modern Ireland has perhaps never been more apt. Scouting should challenge that attitude.

“In Scouting it is about, indeed it must be about, enthusing young people.  Helping them to learn the skills of citizenship and helping them to develop and grow as people.”

“In that sense can I suggest that Scouting today is more important than ever before. Quite simply Ireland needs Scouting. Young people deserve Scouting. The Scout method of Fun, Friendship, Challenge and Adventure for young people (and the young at heart) as I have said is as important today as it ever was.”

“Far from being an, out of date, old fashioned body, Scouting is a Movement whose time for renewal has come. A renewal and a growth that will come – provided it is bold enough and enthusiastic enough to grasp
the opportunities with both hands.”

“To borrow a phrase from the former PD Leader Michael Mc Dowell – Scouting needs to be relevant or redundant”.

Ireland needs a strong economy. More importantly it needs a strong sense of community. Scouting through its educational role plays a central role in paving the way for a strong economy.  It must also play a strong role in building a strong community.

Margaret Thatcher once said that “there is no such thing as society”. She was wrong. Society/community is where we build values and learn to treat each other with respect. Scouting is a good example of society in
microcosm. It is certainly a powerful place to instil the best of values.

It’s up to each of us to continue our work in our Groups in our Counties and in our communities and to continue the momentum of our great movement as it enters its second century. That work is simple – yet so
rewarding.

That work “To be important in the life of a child and young person”.

Calling all History Buffs

A small group of Donnybrook residents are hoping to shortly announce plans to launch a Donnybrook/Pembroke Historical Society. The group initially chaired by local City Councillor, Dermot Lacey are asking anyone with old photographs of the area to consider donating or lending them to the project. Following further discussions with a number of relevant institutions it is hoped to have a public meeting to launch the Society in the very near future. Any one interested should contact Dermot Lacey at 66 Beech Hill Drive, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. Telephone 087-2646960.

From Donnybrook to Croke Park – First All Ireland to be finally marked
Little do many of us know that when we see the major national sporting events that are the All Ireland Football and Hurling Finals in Croke Park that it all started right here in the heart of Dublin 4 – in Donnybrook.

Yes on April 23rd 1887 Limerick played Louth in what is now officially regarded as the very first All Ireland Final. In those days the Counties were represented by the County Club Champions and for anyone who needs
to know – Limerick won.

Now after many years of campaigning by Councillor Dermot Lacey and with the support of Mr Marcus Bourke and the GAA it has been finally agreed to erect a plaque at the entrance to Beech Hill to mark the location of
that very first All Ireland Football Final.  The plaque will be unveiled within the next few months.

Beech Hill Villas – Precinct Improvement – In sight

The long awaited precinct improvement plans for Beech Hill Villas has now received financial approval and final touches are being put to ensuring that residents receive the best deal possible. Councillor Dermot Lacey who has diligently pursued this matter has expressed his “delight that years of lobbying the Council is at last bearing fruit. The plans received a set back two years and at one stage it looked as if we could not get back on track. Thanks to the hard work of the local Committee and the absolute commitment of the Council Officials led by Eileen Brady and Eileen Martin, Beech Hill Villas is going to get the rejuvenation it deserves”. Work should start within a very short time.

Scouts – Hands across the Bridge
Donnybrook is leading the way in what is a very practical example of the recent merger of the two Scout Associations in Ireland. Following a decline in numbers and leaders in the old Scout Association of Ireland
Scout Group based in St. Mary’s Church on Anglesea Road, Scout Leaders from the Scout Group previously part of the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland, based in Brookvale Road have got stuck in to help their fellow
Scouts. The resulkt is that a number of leaders have transferred to the St. Mary’s Group and with luck, hard work and a bit of fun the 7th Donnybrook (St. Mary’s) Group will be alive and very definitely kicking to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Scouting in 2007.

Donnybrook Fair Committee – Senior Citizens Night
Congratulations to all involved in another excellent Senior Citizens Night held in Bective R.F.C. on Friday 10th February. The event which has been running now for over twenty five years is supported by many
local business and political figures and was once again hosted by the inimitable Joe Nolan.

Lansdowne Road -Decision time is here?
After many years of procrastination an application seeking planning approval to redevelop Lansdowne Road as a National Stadium has now been lodged with Dublin City Council.

Plans for the 50,000 are highly likely to receive in depth study from the various Residents Associations in the Donnybrook/Ballsbridge area who are concerned with the impact of the proposed height, overshadowing,
loss of recreational space along the River Dodder, demolition of a house on Shelbourne Road and the many traffic and parking problems envisaged.

Over the last eighteen months or so residents and public representatives have met with the Lansdowne Road Stadium Redevelopment Company, through the Lansdowne Stadium Forum Group and have secured some limited changes. However local feeling is that there is still a long way to go before any such proposal would be acceptable.
Local Labour Councillor, Dermot Lacey, who initiated the Forum and who, in general supports the retention of a Stadium at Lansdowne Road, has more recently expressed his concern at the impact of the final design.
“When I saw the final submitted drawings I was quite simply horrified at the extent to which they impinge on the immediately adjoining residents”. Unfortunately the insistence of the Redevelopment Committee in keeping the second back pitch at Lansdowne Road is leading to a situation in which they are trying to put a litre into a pint bottle.  Most of the issues could be resolved and a satisfactory Stadium provided if this impediment was removed”. The choice lies with the IRFU and their constituent Branches in the Lansdowne Club”. If they want to see real progress with a Stadium that we can all welcome and that the local community can live with they should encourage Lansdowne RFC to move now to an alternative venue and let the necessary adjustments to the submitted plans be made” according to Councillor Lacey.

Given that we are here in Dun Laoghaire I want to pay tribute to my own Party colleague, Eamon Gilmore, who, as Chairperson of Labour’s Policy Committee, has been working hard at developing our own response to this issue. I also acknowledge the near “legendary” work of Jane Dillon Byrne in this regard during her more than thirty years as a member of the Council.

It is particularly significant that we meet here in the week of the death of the late great John de Courcy  Ireland. John was an indefatigable campaigner for appreciation of the sea and the marine generally. He has left a huge legacy. Along with so many others I extend my sympathy to his family and very many friends.

It is interesting to note, in so far as I am aware, that at least four of the major Political Parties are preparing their own plans for the future of the Bay to be included in their election manifestos. In that context I hope that this Conference and the one hosted last week by the “Save our Seafront” group, will have a significant impact on any proposals finally put forward.

In many ways the debate about “reclaiming the Bay” is part of a much wider need to reclaim Dublin itself.

Dublin has been badly let down in recent years. Part of this is because it has been taken for granted and partly because our present system of Local Government denies real power and resources where they are most
required. Dublin is simply seen as the Capital and not as a place with its own distinct needs and agenda. That is not the case with the rest of the Country.

The recent Junior Ministerial reshuffle, in which a Minister of State was chosen, not because of any perceived ability or inability on the part of the contenders, but solely on the basis of the alleged need for a Minister in Meath East, demonstrates that clearly.

Such parochialism does the political system and Ireland no justice and clearly, given our experience, does not apply anyway to Dublin.

All I hope is that the new Minister for Meath East delivers more to that Constituency, than the Taoiseach, who regularly proclaims his “ordinary Dub” image, has delivered for Dublin in nearly ten years in that office.

Dublin can no longer be run under the present cumbersome and powerless system of Local Government. Local Government in Dublin is constantly undermined by a central Government that interferes, but does not
support, the county.

The present system facilitates inappropriate development,  obstructs meaningful participation,  endangers sustainable development of our towns, villages and the City itself, and in no way protects Dublin Bay.

It has long been my view that the Dublin area needs a directly elected Mayor, an elected Regional Authority which will have real powers to tackle the real problems, faced by real people. This together with genuinely local councils based on real areas in which people live could provide the framework for a democratic and inclusive Dublin. We also need a single empowered Dublin Bay Authority.

The present state and future of Dublin Bay is a product of the confusion as to who is in charge. Three County Councils, as well as the Port Companies of Dun Laoghaire and Dublin City, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and numerous Government Departments all have responsibility, in one way or another, for the Bay.

That is a recipe for chaos; it has resulted in an unplanned Bay, with an uncertain future. The only proposals we have seen from Government, are the series of Manhattan style photomontages of the Poolbeg Peninsula
produced by the PDs.

Now, while I don’t share the PDs philosophy or agree fully with their proposals for the Bay, they have at least shown a willingness to think anew on this issue. There is in my opinion scope for an additional complementary Port to the North of Dublin that would remove some of the pressures on the existing City Port that would then allow a more balanced and sustainable approach to the South Bank area.

Of course from the larger Government Party we have seen absolutely nothing.

Instead of it being seen as a Public amenity for the people of Dublin, the Bay is too often seen as a golden location for every developers dream high-rise apartment. Occasionally we have some class of an amenity
thrown in to keep the locals happy. Clearly that is not good enough and we are not going to accept it.

Your attendance today, the attendance last week and the enormous Public support for campaigns from Portrane to Ringsend and from Dublin Bird Watch to Dublin Bay Watch all signify a growing appreciation of the Bay and the need once again to take it back for the people of Ireland and in particular the people of Dublin.

It was in order to try and bring some order to this, that the Dublin Regional Authority, last November, took its decision to initiate a debate on the Bay. I readily acknowledge the role that RTÉ and the makers of the programme “The Bay” had in encouraging us in that direction.

The first stage of that work was to convene a series of meetings to identify if a common view could be agreed towards a future Management Structure for the Bay.

The meetings which were publicly advertised – though I accept more should have been done – and open to all, took place during the month of March and a report on the proceedings and outcome was endorsed by the
Regional Authority at our last meeting.

In general the Authority identified two main objectives:

Firstly, the need to establish a broadly based Dublin Bay Association. The Association would be open to statutory and non statutory bodies alike. Its operations would be open, transparent and democratic.
It is envisaged that, at an early stage anyway, “the DBA would co-ordinate and facilitate, but not implement, the activities of the public bodies and private entities which operate within the Dublin Bay Area”.

We see membership as being open to:
Bay residents,
Commercial entities,
County and City Councils,
Environment NGOs,
Government Departments,
Harbour Authorities,
land owners,
elected representatives,
sports and water based recreational users and so on.

We see it very much as an evolving body perhaps somewhat modelled on the inclusive nature of the Dublin Docklands Development Council, Above all at this stage it should be stressed that we are very open to ideas on this aspect.

In particular as we develop a structure for the Association I would like to see how we can develop appropriate links with the Alliance that emerged from last weekend’s conference.

The second proposal endorsed by the Regional Authority was the need to develop a Master plan or Framework Plan for the entire Bay area.

In that respect the Regional Authority has included a request that such an objective be included in the National Development Plan in our submission to the Minister for Finance.

Overseeing the preparation of the Framework Plan would be one of the core responsibilities of the Dublin Bay Association in conjunction with the elected Regional Authority.

From my own experience I would like eventually to see something along the lines of the Dublin Docklands Development Council emerge. There the statutory sector, community groups and elected representatives
collectively developed the Master Plan and monitored and guided its implementation. However once again I stress that the Regional Authority is open to new ideas and any fresh approach that emerges from this
process of consultation and engagement that is now taking place will be most welcome.

The incredible line up of expert Speakers and campaigners listed in the programme for today’s Conference will ensure a lively and productive Conference. I have no doubt this will be made even better through a
lively interaction with yourselves.

Dublin Bay is potentially an incredible jewel in the crown of a rejuvenated Dublin. It deserves our attention, our support and our commitment. That we have such amenity within two/three miles of the main streets of our capital City is something that would be the envy of many other Cities.

It is our job collectively to polish that jewel and to make sure it is accessible to all.

Over the last few months work has commenced on creating a new future for the Bay. Working together we can make a difference. This is a cause that we will win, because we must, win.

Thank You.

What Ireland Should be ? – For the moment I am going to leave that one, to my fellow Village contributors and, given their unfortunate dominance, to the great and the good who lecture, pontificate and broadcast to us every day, from what some still quaintly call our National Broadcasting Service; RTÉ.

Instead I want to concentrate on Dublin – our Capital City. What sort of Dublin do I want to see in the years ahead. First of all I want a Dublin that is not ignored. Just because something occurs in Dublin it is deemed too often to be about, or for Dublin. Sadly in many cases nothing could be further from the truth. Dublin specific issues and commentary on the great community activity and voluntary endeavour by so many in this City are largely absent from public comment. The scandal of homelessness and poor housing in these Celtic Tiger times, the scourge of drug addiction and the destruction of vibrant inner city communities were all largely ignored until it was too late.

I want to see a Dublin that has equal representation in Dail and Seanad Eireann with the rest of the country. I want to see a Dublin where collectively Public Representatives “Stand up for Dublin” in the same un-self conscious manner as our rural colleagues unquestionably fight the corner for their home areas. The recent battle to preserve Leitrim as a single Dail Constituency is a case in point. Nobody has pointed out the fact that Leitrim has nearly seven times the opportunity to elect members of Seanad Eireann as Dublin. In that as in so many areas of Irish life Dublin loses out.

I want to see a Dublin whose Local Government system is acknowledged as having as democratic a legitimacy, and at least a portion of the powers, as the new Assembly in Northern Ireland. I want to see a transformed Local Government system in Dublin and I want to see it given the powers to deliver services and programmes to the people of this great City. So how do we achieve this?

Dublin needs a radically transformed system of Local Government. The division of the County into four artificial Council areas is neither sensible nor, in my view, working. There is no logic to the divisions and no identifiable sense of community to the names or administrative areas of responsibility of these new County Councils. Thus Ballinteer in the South West is in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area, while Lucan and Clondalkin to the west are in South Dublin County Council and Castleknock and Blanchardstown in the north west are in Fingal. None of these has a specific area logic or local consistency. They all have an identification with Dublin and would be better off with a single powerful elected body making the major decisions. Yet all should also have some form of real local decision making on local issues than the present system allows.

In my view there is a pressing need to have one overarching new Dublin Regional Authority. This Authority would be comprised of approximately thirty full time directly elected members covering the entire County of Dublin with some limited representation from the surrounding Counties. It would be led by a directly elected Lord Mayor and would serve for a five year renewable term of office. Running parallel to this would be a series of Area Based Councils or Committees comprised as at present of part-time or voluntary elected members. Here decisions, in line with best international practice, could be taken at the lowest possible level.

As a central part of this reform I want to see the disastrous, interfering and incompetently used powers of the so called Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to intervene in the internal affairs of local Councils to be abolished. In that way Councillors elected by their local communities could get on with the job in hand, or face the consequences with the electorate next> time round. In the case of failure to agree an approach, fresh elections, similar to the situation at National level would be held.

The new Dublin Regional Authority would be responsible for all strategic, planning, housing and transport decisions and would co-ordinate Dublin> ‘> s response to European Union programmes and national guidelines. It would determine the Annual Budget, be the driver of a persistent and consistent approach to tackling poverty and disadvantage and be the Garda Authority provided for in the Garda Siochana Bill (2004) currently before the Oireachtas. This list is indicative and not exhaustive. Above all it will be a voice for Dublin that, for far too long, in my opinion, been toned down, if not altogether silenced.

Of course all of this has to be accompanied by a type of politics that is built on ideas, constructed on values and driven by a commitment to Country and, in this case, County. I believe that such an approach is possible. I believe that the vast majority of those in public life want to leave a better Ireland than the one we inherited.

I want to see a Local Government system in Dublin and for Dublin that will be a model for the future. I want it to be an agenda setting vehicle for social change and a focus for positive action. There have been many plans published. Too many analyses carried out and too little action. The time has long past for real change.

When the Government, here in the Republic, has concluded telling the British Government how much governance needs to be reformed in Northern Ireland they might turn their attention to this part of the island.

For a start they might rescind the decision to abandon the proposal to have directly elected Lord Mayors. This much needed measures due to come into effect in June of this year was quietly dropped by Martin Cullen in one of his many unfortunate moves while in the Custom House.

The Government might then enable that democratically mandated Lord Mayor do the job of delivering for the City by paying Dublin City Council the €24million in commercial rates that it owes for this year alone. Arrears we can then negotiate on.

Real change can however best be achieved by providing for a Dublin Regional Authority with clout, finance and democratic accountability. An Authority that can and will “Stand up for Dublin”. I’ll be waiting and I’ll be hoping but while doing so I will be campaigning. Campaigning for a better deal for Dublin and a brighter future for its citizens.

Councillor Dermot Lacey

Other speakers were Pat The Cope Gallagher T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Enviornment, Heritage and Local Government, Rachel Kenny, Irish Planning Institute and Michael McLonne, Donegal County Manager.

Needless to say the Minister was not too pleased with Dermot!

“Having just come through the delights of a Local Election campaign I welcome very much this debate on Local Government, Planning and Waste Management.

Because the certain things we can be sure of, is that the elections were most definitely not about any of these issues, or indeed about any of the other responsibilities, opportunities and possibilities of Local Government here in the Republic.

In many ways it was a lost opportunity. In general there was no real analysis of the role of Local Government, no assessment of the very limited powers available to elected Councilors. No comparison with structures in other countries.

No debate or development of understanding, on the key issue of the source of funding our Local Government system, which as someone who came through the whole “Bin Tax” fiasco in Dublin, was particularly annoying.

Amazingly no commentary whatsoever and virtually no reporting of the decision by Government to withdraw the right of citizens to elect their own Mayor or County Council Chairperson. Provision for this was included in the Local Government Act by Noel Dempsey, only to be removed two years later by Martin Cullen.

One can only imagine the howls of protest – and rightly so – if the British Government cancelled such democratic elections in Northern Ireland. (Tommy Gorman would have been instantly dispatched to Stormont and Charlie Bird would be breathlessly reporting from Downing Street)

Yet not a peep on this from our many, usually vocal commentators, here in the Republic.

I say all this because I passionately believe in the importance of Local Government. I believe that the issues that concern people in their day to day lives can best be dealt with by an empowered and resourced system of Local Government.

I hope today and in the years ahead I can contribute something to the case for real reform. Does Local Government work? The answer, is that, in so far as it is enabled to, It does.

However the reality is that Local Government is the poor relation of the Irish Political system. It is badly resourced, underfinanced and often ignored. It> ‘> s very credible record in the provision of quality housing, developing our library system, maintaining Public Parks, and providing a broad range of community facilities and services is second to none.

Together with its huge contribution to Education via the VEC system, Local Government has provided Ireland with a dynamic leadership and energy that is only limited by the restrictions imposed on it by a blinkered Department of State and a central Government obsessed with controlling everything.

Instead of supporting Local Government we have a Department of State that despite its lofty title of Environment, Heritage and Local Government is, in my opinion, clearly ill disposed to the first two and actively hostile to the latter. The record is there for all to see.

We are told that “Better Local Government” is the way forward. That the Government has a plan for effective reform and that, as always, it is on the way.

As a long standing advocate for Local Government reform I only wish that the Government did have a plan. I wish that they did have commitment and that we did have a Department of State, led by a Minister who actually believed in his title, Minister for the Environment and Local Government. Instead we have Martin Cullen. It is one of the unfortunate truisms of modern Ireland that we need reform of our creaking, under-funded and under-developed system of Local Government. It is a truism occasionally written about, often argued for and never, ever, implemented. Of course we need real reform, and of course we need Councilors to take more responsibility.

As a Dublin City Councilor since 1993 and more recently as Lord Mayor I have consistently argued for such reform and acted in the best interests of Dublin City when faced with difficult choices. Sadly, contrary to repeated Government assertions, the record of this Government, on this issue, has been entirely in the other direction.

The real facts, unfortunately bear this out. There is no evidence of any willingness on the part of the Cabinet to give Local Government more power. The very opposite, is clearly the case.

Removal of powers relating to traffic, planning matters and the making of the Development Plan have been the order of the day. Powers in relation to waste, waste charges, control of the taxi industry, and the list could go on, have all been removed in recent years.

We are told that this is happening because Local Councilors will not exercise their responsibilities as required. We are told this by, of all people, a Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, that has failed to tackle our Housing Crisis, will not tackle our environmental problems and more recently wasted nearly E60 million in an e-voting experiment that nobody asked for.

Every six months I ask the same question of the Dublin City Manager. What powers have been transferred to Dublin City Council since June 1997 and what powers have been transferred from Dublin City Council in the same period? The list of powers removed since this Government came into office is almost triple the new or additional powers it has been granted. This pattern is repeated on every Council across the State.

The much hyped Constitutional recognition of Local Government has been referred to as some sort of progress. The reality is that this is a meaningless sop and would not have prevented Ministers Dempsey or Cullen abolishing Dublin City Council or any other Local Authority if they fail to carry out the Ministers wishes on certain matters.

If Michael Ring proved anything in his High Court challenge on the dual mandate it was to show just how weak that so-called Constitutional Recognition really is.

Funding for Local Government remains deeply inadequate and has decreased in real terms over recent years. The “wide ranging independent study of Local Government funding” promised by the present Minister will probably never see the light of day and anyway if past experience is anything to go by it will certainly never be implemented.

While he is waiting for this report the Minister might take the immediate step of paying Dublin City Council some of the E22 million owed for commercial rates on Government properties for last year alone. Yes, Government itself decides that it has the right to deny a Local Authority rates that every other commercial user has to pay, yet still demands the same level of service.

Incidentally that figure might be a salutary lesson to some of those towns seeking the transfer of Government Departments as part of the Decentralization programme.

This fundamental issue of financing Local Government must be central to any reform package.

Governance without an independent source of funding is clearly not governance at all. It is simply administration at a local level of central Government policies.

In my view there is a need for a National Forum on Funding of Local Government. Such a Forum would be charged to, once and for all, agree a consensus approach on the issue. The forum would be comprised of the Social Partners, the main Political Parties and the three Councilor Representative Bodies. There should be an opportunity to contribute from the wider public.

It would be given a maximum of twelve months to report. The forum could consider either a national and common approach to the funding issue or, as I would prefer, a range of options that could be determined as appropriate by local elected Councils. These could include everything from a tourist or hotel room levy, planning enforcement charges, a variable income tax levy, sales tax and so on.

Real Responsibility will then rest with local Councillors who will also have real flexibility as to how to spend this money.

I want to see a transformed Local Government system. Local Government is best placed to tackle the key issues of Housing, Traffic/Transport, Planning, Community Services and Policing.

On all these, I believe Local Government, if allowed, could deliver more efficiently, more swiftly and more economically to local communities.

Instead of each City or County Council having to prepare a set of housing plans which must then be assessed by another team of architects and officials in the Custom House let the responsibility lie at the local level. Time saved and money saved.

Instead of the Dublin Director of Traffic having to consult with over 30 different agencies before a decision can be made in relation to Traffic – let decisions be taken at Council level.

Instead of Lottery funding applications being processed at a National level by Government Department surely it would make more sense if these decisions could be made by those who know and understand the needs of an area, through the Local Government system.

The same principle applies to policing, planning education and so on.

In most European countries these matters are the preserve of the Local Government system. Here they are either the responsibility of central Government or unaccountable Quangos. There is absolutely no reason to believe that the “National” knows best.

However such a widening of functions can not be achieved under our current structures. Our present system belongs to the 19th century.

Ireland has changed dramatically since the map of our Local Government system was drawn over one hundred years ago. Any new structures should
recognize that fact. Local Government itself needs to be remapped to be based on the real living space of citizens and reflect the actual communities in which they live.

These new structures should then be truly responsible for the design and delivery of services within their respective areas. All Public bodies and State agencies active, or inactive as the case may be, should on an ongoing basis be accountable to these democratically elected Councils. Not alone would this be good for the areas concerned and for the principle of subsidiarity and for Local Government, it would also have the beneficial side effect of releasing space for our National Legislature to deal with the issues of national and strategic importance that should be its remit.

You may be told that there have been reforms. That Better Local Government has given us Area Committees, Strategic Policy Committees and City or County Development Boards.

That is true – except we never asked for them. Yes Area Committees are effective if all you want to do is to protect your patch, look after your parish or community. But they also have a negative effect in terms of developing a sense of responsibility for the wider City or County.

On the Strategic Policy Committees – let me simply ask you to find ten Councilors from across the Country who will tell you that they are working. They are not. Sadly in my opinion that is exactly what the Department wants. Let me give you some simple examples. On the Traffic and Transportation Committee of Dublin City Council we are forbidden by law to include the Gardai or Dublin Bus as members.

On the Engineering and Environment Committee we cannot propose amendments to the Waste Management Plan because that is now the sole responsibility of the Manager.

On the Arts, Culture and Youth Committee we have no input or opportunity to question the Dept of Education on any of the issues for which we have a nominal responsibility. I could go on.

So what do I want? In Dublin I want to see a directly elected Mayor who would serve for the life of the Council. I want to see the establishment of a full time Dublin Regional Council and I want to see real devolution of the powers I have already referred to. Such a format can be repeated as appropriate across the country.

Some people believe that the role of Local Government is to implement the views and policies of the so-called Department of the Environment and Local Government. I do not. It is the job of Dublin City Councilors to do all that is best for our City and its citizens. It is our job to stand up for Dublin, not to regurgitate the failed views and policies imposed from the Custom House. The same applies to Councilors representing other parts of our country in respect of their areas.

The next Local Elections take place in less than five years. These years should not be as wasted and lost as the last five have been. In this period, instead of propagating the myth that they are engaged in Local Government reform, the Government should take the opportunity to grasp the nettle, seek the support of the opposition parties and introduce a vibrant, independent and relevant Local Government system.

I have great hope for the future of Local Government. A failed Minister and an obdurate Department cannot block reform forever.

Local Government can work and will deliver – if it is allowed to. That is the big question. Will central Government ever have the will to release the energy that is there at Local level or will the mandarins forever believe in their own over riding competence to deal with everything?

The media too can play their part. More accurate and informed coverage of Council affairs would be a start. RTE in particular should consider the appointment of a Local Government correspondent.

For me the most striking thing about the most recent local elections, quite simply, was the shameful abdication of responsibility by RTE our supposedly Public Broadcasting Service. Local Government itself and the issues surrounding it were sidelined to the part of bit player as RTE concentrated, in the minimal amount of coverage it did give, to who’s son or daughter would inherit the family seat, the impact the election might have for Government or how the various Party Leaders would fare.

It is an issue that RTE must someday address because part of the responsibility for the poor image of Local Government, lies with those charged with, and funded to, impart information on Public Affairs and who fail to do so. Responsibility for some of that poor image also of course lies with those of us directly involved.

The rest of the media could also start engaging Councilors on issues of relevance, not just on the latest “junket” but on the policies and activities of the Council.

We have in Ireland perhaps the most accessible and yet, maligned elected Public Representatives anywhere in the world – The local City or County Councilor. So to answer the question. Does Local Government work? Clearly it works better than it is given credit for, far better than one could expect from the resources allocated, but far short of what it is capable of. I am proud of the service that the vast majority of my fellow Councilors have given to this country.

I will be a lot happier when they are given the power, the structures and the resources to deliver more.”