Local government reform plan a welcome step

It is certainly arguable that the most decisive act taken by any minister in the current government occurred this week when Environment Minister Phil Hogan announced a pretty significant reform of local government.

Given the vested interests involved, it is not surprising his new template for local government has elicited a very negative response from some quarters.

The plan announced by Mr Hogan has elicited many different responses, but the two that seem to be most common relate to whether this is a “reform” plan or just good old-fashioned “cost cutting”, and the claim it is an attack on local democracy. In my view neither of these arguments is that relevant.