Council members to fight reform plans

FIANNA FÁIL local representatives told the party hierarchy to “leave us alone” after plans were revealed that would do away with more than 700 town councillors.

Members of the party’s National Councillor Forum said the proposals were trying to “fix something that isn’t broken”, arguing that keeping all 744 town council representatives costs the same as paying just three TDs for a year.

The forum is seeking further meetings with senior ministers or Government representatives to discuss a document drawn up by a group of TDs and senators which will form the basis of the Fianna Fáil submission to the Government’s White Paper on local government reform.