Minister wants local councillors to have more decision making power

Darragh O’Brien said that he wanted to see a better spread of representation within local politics, by profession, ethnicity, and gender

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien said that he doesn't believe local councillors 'have the level of input that they should have'. Cork City Council currently meets at City Hall, Cork. File Picture: Denis Minihane.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has backed key reforms to local Government, saying that chief executives should have their powers “rebalanced” towards elected councillors.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr O'Brien, whose remit covers local Government and housing, said that he wanted to see local councillors be given additional decision making powers.