Mattie McGrath demands restoration of Clonmel borough council
Mattie McGrath criticised the 2014 abolition of Conmel Borough Council and demanded the restoration of borough councils, saying the change left Clonmel and other towns financially depleted. He cited figures for lost capital and cash — £145 million in assets, £30 million cash and an estimated £200 million of discretionary spending over a decade — and called for a pre-election commitment to reinstate local councils.
Abolition and financial impact
McGrath said the minister abolished Conmel Borough Council in 2014 when it held £145 million in capital assets and £30 million in cash. He argued the removal of local control cost roughly £20 million a year in discretionary spending, amounting to about £200 million over ten years.
Local budget squeeze
He highlighted the limited funds available to the new municipal district, a subcommittee of the County Council, noting it had only £200,000 of discretionary spend this year, up from £140,000 last year. McGrath warned that Clonmel, described in the speech as the biggest inland town, is effectively penniless and unable to carry out necessary works.
Call to restore borough councils
McGrath pressed for a commitment, before the election, to restore the Borough Council to Clonmel and other boroughs. He said a minister later acknowledged the amalgamation was a mistake and characterised the transfer of funds as "daylight robbery."
Political accountability and local democracy
He accused deputies who supported the 2014 move of permitting the change under confidence and supply and insisted he had opposed the abolition at the time. McGrath said his party has a policy to restore urban councils and described urban councils as an important exercise in local democracy and creative vision.
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Deterioration and neglect of the beautiful town of Clewell Malla, the Vale of Honey. In 2014, Minister Phil Hogan and Fine Gael, supported by you in Confidence Supply, abolished Conmel Borough Council. On that day, Conmel Borough Council had £145 million in capital assets. Conmel Borough Council had £30 million cash on hand. And since that date, annually, each year, 10 years, would have a £20 million of discretionary spend, which is £200 million. Taking out of Conmel, literally, left Conmel penniless. Yesterday's meeting of the new municipal district, a subcommittee of the County Council, they had £200,000 of discretionary spend, up from £140,000 last year. We cannot continue with this undermining of the famed town of Clonmel, the biggest inland town in the country. It's just penniless and cannot do any necessary works. So will you give a commitment, before the election now, that you will restore the Borough Council to Clonmel and other boroughs as well, but Clonmel in this case? Minister Brendan Howell has said it was the biggest mistake of his life, he admitted that at least. Will you admit it was a mistake, the emalchamation? The money was taken from South Tip to North Tip and Nina. It's daylight robbery. I beg your pardon, I opposed that at the time, and you know that. How dare you, sir? Confidence and supply. I was not in government at the time. I opposed it. You were suffering from memory loss. You were in confidence and supply. You were sitting there, nodding, like a nodding junkie, all the time. You were confident and supply. You didn't, sir. You were sitting there. Oh, my God. The spin on the lies is potential. You were there. Sorry, I beg your pardon, I'm not spinning any lies. You are. Well, it's right, sir. Deputy, will you allow the term? You allowed it to go through? I did not. On a wink at a nod? It was 2014. Check the ring, yes. No confidence in supply in 2014. No, no, no. None. And you're right, the then Minister Brendan Howell acknowledged, he brought it in, the Labour Party brought it in. Fine Gael agreed to it at the time. Will you? Minister Howell has acknowledged subsequently that he felt it was a wrong move. At the start of the last government, you refused to back this government, even though I want to restore urban councils. We have a policy in Fianna Fáil to restore urban councils because I believe they are essential to progression of towns, the length and breadth of the country. I thought they were a very good exercise in local democracy. I believe urban councils are a very good exercise in terms of local people coming together to do what is right for their locality and creative vision. So I really would ask you Deputy to withdraw your assertion that I somehow was responsible. Thank you Deputy Marian Harkin please. Thank you Deputy Marian Harkin please here, I would ask your question. Thank you Deputy Marian Harkin please. Thank you very much. Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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