Phil Hogan to scrap all Town Councils. Number of County Councils to be reduced.

[sondagefaux]

Cork is over run with Councils:

Bandon Town Council
Bantry Town Council
Clonakilty Town Council
Cobh Town Council
Fermoy Town Council
Kinsale Town Council
Macroom Town Council
Mallow Town Council
Midleton Town Council
Passage West Town Council
Skibbereen Town Council
Youghal Town Council

Yeah, totally nuts.

Also anomalous that Ballincollig and Carrigaline didn't get Town Councils while Passage still does.

Abolishing these town councils, and merging Cork city and county into one, would create a local authority area with a population of about half a million - big enough to increase efficiency through economies of scale.

Local elected community councils (unpaid representatives) could be given a budget by the local authority to spend on minor issues (eg: fixing potholes, tidying greens, cleaning graffiti etc) as they could probably act more quickly than the large local authority.

If a Greater Dublin Authority, covering an area about 30km radius around central Dublin, was set up, it would have a population of about 1.6 million, leaving 3 million people who could be covered by several regional authorities, each with a population of about 500,000.

[Marcos the black]

About time too... Such a waste of money and it's all about their ego's... Delighted, lets hope we don't have to pay any of these moochers off.

[SPN]

Town Councils are very undemocratic. towns provide a range of services to the residents and its hinterland, The residents of the hinterland have no say in electing the town councils.

That's why they should be replaced with District Councils.

[Luachara]

That's why they should be replaced with District Councils.

Many Local Authorities use meetings of the Area council which might consist of 1/5 of the County Councilors plus the Town Councilthus giving Urban voters a greater influence in representation.

One layer of Councillors is sufficient.

[Hitch 22]

I guess you see no contradiction between your support for the ballot box and embracing nepotism. I am also guessing that you think 150 votes is indeed a vote for quality.

So because the people don't vote the way you want, you want to take their representatives away from them?

[Chrisco]

So because the people don't vote the way you want, you want to take their representatives away from them?

But what do they do, these representatives?

[Luachara]

But what do they do, these representatives?

Generally they mooch expenses and try and get on the VEC to mooch more expenses. Vicious catfights take place to claim credit for anyhting that actually gets done while responsibility is avoided for things not getting done.

In many cases the cost of paying the councillors and the town manager eats much of the revenue form paid parking.

There is lots of jolly outings at the tax payers expense and attending conferences, and getting on bodies like LAMA.

[sic transit]

So because the people don't vote the way you want, you want to take their representatives away from them?

The presumption of clear guilt of something when nothing else fits. I hang my head. You might want to learn to read posts before you answer them.

[Oriel27]

great news.

they should join - Monaghan and Cavan County Councils -- for a combined population of 100K there is no need for 2 county councils. thin about the amount of jobs that would be cut - bloody great.

[rockofcashel]

People keep talking about making efficiencies through economies of scales.. but the biggest cost in the town councils are wages for staff.. given that the CPA rules out any compulsory redundancies.. how will getting rid of the councils make any significant savings in this area ?