Sharon Keogan urges review of local government representation
Sharon Keogan urged a review of local government representation, citing population growth and reduced councillor numbers since the 2014 reforms. She called on the new minister to establish European affairs offices across local authorities, create and fund a European Affairs Strategic Policy Committee, and to appear in the house to outline the programme for government’s vision for local government.
Call to review councillor numbers
She highlighted adjustments to DAWN numbers from 160 to 174 and said it would be wise to revisit councillor numbers within local government given demographic change.
Population growth and past reforms
She noted that local representation was reduced from 1,627 to 949 in the 2014 local government reforms. She contrasted the 2014 population of 4.6 million with today’s 5.5 million and cited the CSO expert group projection of 7 million by 2050, saying that would leave each councillor responsible for about 7,500 citizens.
European affairs offices and strategic committee
She argued for the introduction of a European affairs office within all local authorities, saying few counties currently have these and that local authorities are missing out on millions of euros in grants because they lack dedicated staff to source and apply for funding. She called for a European Affairs Strategic Policy Committee to be introduced and financed by the minister so local government can track directives, regulations and decisions from Europe.
Request for ministerial appearance
She asked the Leader to request that the new minister come into the house to discuss his vision and the programme for government’s approach to local government and to listen to voices in the house.
Environmental appeal
She closed with an appeal to the Chair to use executive powers to ban plastic straws, describing it as a simple executive order the house could enact.
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I am delighted to see you back in the chair this term. With the increase in the DAWN numbers from 160 to 174, recognising our growing population, I think it would be wise to revisit our numbers within local government. In the 2014 local government reforms, we reduced our local representation from 1627 to 949. Our population in 2014 was 4.6 million and today we have a population of 5.5 million. The CSO expert group have projected our population growth to 7 million by 2050. That would mean every councillor would be responsible for 7,500 citizens. We also need to look at the introduction of a European affairs office within all local authorities. I believe that few counties have these, but this needs direction from our new minister. Millions of euros in grants are going elsewhere because local authorities do not have dedicated staff sourcing and applying for these grants for communities. That leads me also to call for the introduction of the European Affairs Strategic Policy Committee to be introduced and financed by our new minister. It is vitally important that those within local government know what directives, regulations and decisions are coming out of Europe. So Leader, I call on you to request the new minister, John Cummins, to come into this house to discuss his vision and the programme for government's vision for local government and to listen to the voices within this house as well. Chair, if you have any pull at all and you can make an executive order, can we please get rid of the plastic straws?
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