Hogan calls for more efficiency in local government

Minister for the Environment and Local Government Phil Hogan said today that efficiencies are needed at local government level when it comes to managing cities.

Minister Hogan made the comments at a conference hosted by the Dublin City Business Improvement District (BID), which heard calls for Irish towns and cities to be professionally managed.

BID stated that suburban shopping centres, which are professionally managed, have a clear marketing message and react quickly to their customers needs.

They said that city centres have to do the same. Minister Hogan said that this is something he is working on.

"There is a lot of local government reform required and efficiencies in the way we deliver serices at local level," he said.

"That's why I'm broadening the base where people can pay for local services more locally and where we have a greater focus on accountablility at local level about what services are being provided and what plans are being put in place by local authorities."