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THE GOVERNMENT HAS announced a number of changes to Ireland’s political system which Minister Phil Hogan has described as the “most fundamental overhaul” of local government in more than 100 years.
The reforms will see the number of councillors reduced by 42 per cent and the number of local authorities slashed from 114 to just 31.
All 80 existing town councils will be placed by a municipal governance, merging town and county authorities, and the number of council seats will fall from 1,627 to below 950. Members elected at local level will also represent the district at county level.
The structures and levels of all payments to councillors will also be reviewed as part of the Putting People First programme.
According to Hogan, the plans will save the State €420 million over four years. He said the changes aim to rebuild the public’s trust in local government again as it currently does not “enjoy universal confidence”.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the coalition is bringing local government into the 21st century with “one of the most radical, ambitious and far-reaching governance reform plans” ever put forward in Ireland.
The proposals will see town councils replaced by Municipal Districts, something Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said would help local government be more democratic and more responsive.
The Putting People First programme sets to reform structures that are largely unchanged since 1898. Key elements will include:
Hogan said the scheme looks to devolve functions to local level, citing economic plans, housing service plans and the location of educational sites.
“The whole tenet of my policy is to make sure there is a rebalancing of power to the democratically elected local councillor and away from the management system,” he said.
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We’ve just exited a level 5 lockdown and people are being told by the government to…. “stay away from crowded shops”…. obviously shops will be thronged with people now after being cooped up for a month not being able to buy a shirt or a dress or god forbid….a tie…also deemed non essential when I went looking for one in Tesco. That statement is what my late grandfather would call….complete bolloxology.
@Billy Big Baws: And the first pop up I see on my device as I wake is from RTE about QUEUES forming outside shops this morning , and all this before 7 am.
Maybe I’m wrong but I think putting a senior civil servant out in front of the media and telling us how to behave is bizarre ,what qualifies her to pontificate to the Irish people, has she more qualifications than George Lee by any chance?
Christ..It will.be like the last helicopter out of Saigon when the shops open .
@Donal Desmond: Miss Saigon live from Mary Street !
I love how they chose a photo of Penneys for this article. You can guarantee they will have a queue from Mary St to the Spire tomorrow…
@Dobby Dooo Dooo: i am in the queue already
@Dobby Dooo Dooo: already a queue before 7 am .
@Terry Cahill: People going in for “essentials” and coming out with bags full of cr@p they don’t need…
How do people stay away from crowded shops, if they are already in a crowded shop :-/
@Kevin O’Brien: and if we all shopped off-peak…
Me alarm clock set, mask ready to go, hand sanitizer in me pocket, not taking the bus going to walk it. Penny’s here i come. NOT.
@Paul Gorry: as a penneys employee I think your in the minority….unfortunately. they should of sent us for zookeeper training during the lockdown.
@deisecelt: “should of” ?
Reading down through the articles here on the Journal & all I’m seeing is the word “avoid”. Avoid public transport, avoid crowded shops, avoid putting on special offers. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
@Kevin O’Brien: in other words avoid picking up the contagious virus and passing it on to others.
The shops are now open to help the economy back on it’s feet and keep people in jobs.
Also don’t go to the shops.
Is this the same headline i read last March, without the Christmas bit?
@Paul Gorry: Reduce reuse recycle….
Consume! Consume! Consume! Retail shopping slaves to the system of controlling your life. Stress over getting stuff and overstretch those cards…… Sad really. I hope everyone eventually wakes up and stops the unnecessary stresses around this time of year. Remember all those toys that will be gathering dust in a month or 2 and all that food that goes to waste cost hours of your life to pay for. Right now off to ques outside Smyths…… Lol
People are already queueing so best of luck with that advice.
@Ed: Hope they’re doing what most people are doing and queuing 2 m apart, outdoors.
but the retailers say the complete opposite, pack in and everyone get out and shop till ye drop, who should we listen to. :-)
Stay away from crowded shops????its christmas time
Ya, but you see “Christmas” you cannot avoid these things. The air must be thin up there.
I will wait a few days and then stroll the shops at my own leisure. I got 95pct of my Christmas shopping done online and feel good about not being frantic this month. I did miss the in-person Black Friday sales this year, to be honest.
have your say