We need to decentralise health, education and planning powers

The votes have been counted and verified, the people have spoken, but we are not sure what they have said.

The mainstream parties are at a loss to know why they can only get 50% of the vote. The reason is the people’s abiding impression is that the elites don’t care and won’t listen to ordinary people.

It has become a cliché to say Ireland is the most Stalinist country in the world when it comes to local government and administration. So much power has been taken from local governments they are hardly worth keeping.

This is not the case in other countries, where local governments have responsibilities for health care, education, policing, public utilities, social services, planning and housing, sport and so on.

The European Union has a principle called subsidarity where decisions should be taken at the lowest practical level of government.

In 2011, after 541 days of negotiations, Belgium solved its political crisis with more devolution to its regions.

Actually it was its sixth such reform in 50 years. We haven’t had one in a century.

So why not try it? Why not devolve powers to communities in a way that they can responsibility exercise them and see if they can solve their own problems instead of protesting about it?

It may be counter-intuitive but perhaps the best way to secure political power is to surrender some of it.

But are the elites listening?

Jason Fitzharris

Rivervalley

Swords

Co Dublin