OPINION (AN COLÚN): Petition launched to bring back badly missed Town Councils

I was delighted to learn this week that a Petition has been launched to bring back our badly missed Town Councils. I've written about this issue a number of times since their demise in 2014, an abolition which was described as “an act of vandalism” that badly damaged local democracy and communities in our country.
I've often met apathy and indifference when I discuss this issue and it's heartening to see therefore that there are some who do care.
The petition has been launched by Cormac Corr from Kells, who ran as an independent candidate in the local elections on June 7. He's also the Peace Commissioner for Kells and North Meath.
Cormac told me that the petition has garnered over 100 signatures in just the first few days since its launch. “While this is a promising start,” he wrote, “I am confident that as people reflect on the past 10 years without Town Councils, we will see an increase in support for this sensible policy. Alongside the petition, I’ve been in contact with almost every mainstream party over the past few weeks. Three parties have confirmed they will include the re-establishment of town councils in their general election manifestos, and one party has pledged to introduce a policy to create a new tier of local government. From my understanding, this would aim to fulfil the same role as the defunct Town Councils. I am hopeful that more parties and Independents will, in the weeks and months to come, express their support for re-establishing our Town Councils; hopefully making it a redline issue in post election negotiations.
“As we approach a general election, it’s my goal to see the petition continue to grow. Currently, a majority of parties in the Dáil broadly support re-establishment, but we need to demonstrate that the public also shares this desire. A return to local decisions being made locally could be a meaningful solution to many issues facing our urban centres, especially if Town Councils are given adequate power and revenue-collecting abilities.”
The abolition of Town Councils was ostensibly done to save money during the recesssion but in fact it saved little money and was a short-sighted move. Removing the Councils took away essential overseers of local communities and has resulted in significant challenges for town centres nationwide. A 2023 report by the Council of Europe highlighted deficiencies in Ireland’s current local government system, describing it as one of the most inadequate in Europe. Supporters of the petition believe that the absence of Town Councils has contributed to the decline of town centres and a reduction in local civic engagement.
Historically speaking, Town Councils have been the tier of government closest to the people. They provided a platform for localised decision-making, allowing communities to address their specific needs directly. Without them many towns have suffered.
The petition outlines several key advantages to reinstating town councils:
1. Localised Decision-Making: Empowering communities to make decisions tailored to their unique needs.
2. Increased Civic Engagement: Encouraging greater public participation in the democratic process by making governance more accessible and responsive.
3. Economic Revitalisation: Enabling town councils to support local businesses and economies, leading to the revitalisation of town centres.
4. Enhanced Accountability: Creating smaller, more transparent governing bodies that are directly accountable to their constituents.
5. Preservation of Community Identity: Strengthening the unique identities and heritage of individual towns.
The petition proposes the reconstitution of town councils in towns that previously had them, as well as the establishment of councils in all towns with populations exceeding 5,000. This would include Birr and Roscrea. The former has badly missed its Town Council over the last decade; prior to 2014 the latter, for many years, cried out for a Town Council something which it never had.
“Reinstating town councils with proper funding and authority could address the challenges facing our urban centres and restore public confidence in our democratic institutions,” pointed out petitioner Ryan O’Boyle. “We believe this initiative will resonate with voters eager to see a revival of local governance.”
The petition is gaining momentum, with many community activists, concerned residents, and local representatives across the country expressing their support.
If you wish to sign the petition or find out more, you can do so by following the link below: https://chng.it/qWTWSHYybP