Fine Gael wants power given back to local authorities

ONE-stop- shops providing all government services locally must be set up if the 2004 elections are not going to be a total waste of time, Fine Gael said yesterday.

Local councillors have lost most of their powers and next year’s elections will be totally irrelevant unless they are given some power back, Fine Gael’s Environment spokesman Bernard Allen said.

“Councillors have lost control over what service charges people will pay in future and will not be able to stop water charges being brought back unless action is taken,” Deputy Allen said.