Local democracy must be preserved

Now that we have retained the Seanad, perhaps we can turn our attention to another pillar of democracy that is under threat.

The abolition of town councils is on the departmental agenda for the last 40 years and at last the mandarins have found a minister ready to do their bidding.

As a former member of a progressive town council for 20 years, I can vouch for the local democratic input into the decision-making process. In a town council there is no place to hide, as all important decisions taken by the members are done by roll call vote.

Over the next few months there will be much mention of duplication of services, value for money and other meaningless phrases. Ignore them. The stark reality is that urban government is far more effective and economic than the larger county body. If local government reform is the objective, then the model of a district council based on the large town, plus its natural economic and social hinterland, would be the only way to go. However, that is not what is envisaged and we have to ask: why not? I am sure that some readers will recall the “principle of subsidiarity” which was a great buzz phrase a number of years ago. Where is it now?

The last few days have shown that the people value democracy and I feel it behoves us all to guard against its diminution in any way. If local democracy ebbs away it will be like our language — we will only miss it when it’s gone.

Michael Joy

Midleton

Co Cork