‘God forbid they give councils any power’

Cavan County Council's chief executive says a published report proposing reforms to local democracy appears “light” on long-term functions and financing, amid councillor fears that centralisation will further erode local accountability and leave elected members powerless.

Eoin Doyle warned that significant questions arise from the Local Democracy Taskforce report and agreed that greater clarity is needed.

Responding to a debate at the October monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, he said nothing had been finalised and there was “a lot to be won and lost yet”.

His comments followed strong criticism from councillors, who questioned whether the proposals would genuinely strengthen local democracy or lead to further centralisation of power.

Sinn Féin’s Stiofán Conaty said his experience since being elected had been “eye-opening”, outlining how local authorities are inadequately funded and councillors insufficiently empowered.

He said decision making is already too centralised within Government departments and State agencies, leaving councils across the country constrained.

“There is an imbalance between the powers of the Executive and of the reserved functions of councillors,” he said, arguing that local elected representatives should play a more meaningful role in shaping policy.

Cllr Conaty also highlighted what he described as a democratic deficit, whereby decisions affecting local communities are frequently made by national bodies with little input from local councillors.

He cautiously welcomed proposals to reform Municipal Districts and Strategic Policy Committees, but warned that this means little without increased funding and greater autonomy.

The Ballyhaise man proposed that the council write to the Department of Local Government seeking clarification and invite representatives of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) or the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) to discuss the report with them.

Independent Ireland councillor Shane P. O’Reilly also questioned the proposals, saying the document was “scant on clarity”.

He warned the creation of regional bodies could further undermine local representation, comparing the centralisation of responsibility to the replacement of regional health boards by the HSE.

“God be with the days of the Northern Eastern Health Board, when we had people like Danny Brady and Eddie Feeley fighting for the county,” he said.

Describing the prospect of further erosion of councillors’ powers, he added: “God forbid they give councils any power.”

Cllr O’Reilly argued that municipal councils would need meaningful authority to make any difference, and warned there is little point establishing them if they did not have “teeth”.

He also questioned whether the ambitious proposals would ever be delivered, likening them to plans for a regional hospital near Virginia that, he joked, would end up being built in Navan but ultimately end up in Lourdes, “being a miracle if it ever happens”.

Fianna Fáil's John Paul Feeley said all stands were “part of a system”, but it was his opinion that so lofty are the goals contained in the report that he didn't think anything would “change much at all”.

Mr Doyle, meanwhile, emphasised the importance of councillors and council management working together for the county’s benefit.

He said a defining strength of Cavan County Council is that elected members and the executive “pull on the county jersey” and work collectively.