Local Government reform plan set to shed 500 jobs

The Government is today expected to approve new proposals to change local Government, with the loss of 500 staff through voluntary redundancy.

The plan drawn up by the Environment Minister Phil Hogan is expected to see the abolition of Town Councils and the merger of some City and County Councils.

The plan will see all 80 Town Councils abolished, with County Councillors given new district powers.

It will see Cork and Galway retain City and County Councils, while Dublin would keep its four local Councils, but Waterford and Limerick would see their City and County Councils merged, along with two County Councils in Tipperary.

The number of Councillors in the country will be reduced from 1,600 to 950.

In Dublin, residents will be asked in a plebiscite if they want a directly-elected mayor, although that ballot is not expected until 2014.

“Putting People First sets to reform the system of local government from structures that are largely unchanged since 1898; to modernise the approaches to ensure more is delivered to the citizen and to build confidence in the local government sector by making it more accountable to the people it serves,” said Minister Hogan.

“This document represents fundamental re-imagining of the system and it sees local government leading economic, social and community development, as well as delivering efficient services that are good value.”