'Local government in Ireland is among the weakest in Europe’

Association of Irish Local Government calls for action as, in terms of local democracy, Ireland is third from the bottom of the class among 46 European states

Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) president Gail Dunne says Ireland's highly-centralised system 'violates the principle of subsidiarity which is held in great esteem in Europe'. Picture: FiannaFail.ie

An “urgent review” is needed into Ireland’s local government system after it was found to be one of the weakest in Europe, the body representing councillors across the country has said.

The Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) described as “damning” a report into local democracy and decision-making across 46 European states that placed Ireland near the bottom of the continent.

In Strasbourg  on Thursday, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted the report that concluded Ireland ranks only above Hungary and Moldova when it comes to power in local authorities and councils.

The report said that “although Ireland is a solid democracy, it remains one of the most centralised countries in Europe” and that “there is still a lot to be done before local self-government in Ireland is on par with other European countries”.

The report did say that “significant improvements have taken place” since the last assessment a decade ago, such as the “transfers of the responsibility for local economic and community development to local government”.

However, “there is still a lot to be done before local self-government in Ireland is on par with other European countries”, it warned.

There is a “limited share of public affairs under local authorities’ own responsibility and local authorities’ limited own resources”, it said, as well as “an imbalance between the elected members and the chief executives in local authorities”.

“In many respects, the position of local government is weaker in Ireland than in most other European countries,” the report said.

“It has a more limited set of functions, represents a smaller share of public affairs, and can only marginally influence the size of its resources. The strong position of the chief executive also limits the role of the elected representatives.”

Ireland’s AILG, which represents the 949 elected city and county councillors in 31 councils across the country, said the findings are “damning”.

AILG president Gail Dunne said: “Councillors here have fewer powers than in almost every other country and have limited revenue-raising and spending powers.

“Here in Ireland, we have a highly centralised local government system,” he said.

“This violates the principle of subsidiarity which is held in great esteem in Europe — this means that decisions should be taken as close as possible to the place where those decisions impact.

Mr Dunne, a member of Wicklow County Council, said the AILG “expects the immediate implementation of the recommendations contained in the report” by the Government, saying it “will help strengthen the governance and oversight role of elected councillors”.

He said: “We are also calling for the minister and Government to commence an immediate and urgent fundamental review of our local government system.”