Mayo councillors at odds over direction of local government

The abolition of town councils was the best thing to happen in local government according to a Mayo councillor despite claims by other that it has been a disaster for towns.

There was further division between urban and rural councillors in Mayo County Council with some urban councillors stating that urban areas have suffered from abolition of the town councils in 2014. In contrast rural councillors claim that medium sized towns are now getting an 'equal share of the county cake' and the reform of local government has benefited them more.

The debate was raised at the annual general meeting of Mayo County Council on Friday by Castlebar-based councillor Blackie Gavin who described his time on the council as a disaster in comparison to the 20 years he spent as a town councillor.

“I spent 20 years on the town council and it was the best years of my political career and it has been a disaster since I got elected to Mayo County Council in 2009. I find our towns are suffering since the abolition of the town councils in 2014. Every town and village is suffering and you can see it all over the country.

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“We have got €12m for capital projects in our county town and not a euro has been spent yet. Every other town and village in other counties has the money spent except in Mayo so it is a disaster,” he said.

However, Claremorris-based councillor Richard Finn said that the abolition of town councils was the best thing that happened in local government.

“When Phil Hogan [former Minister] abolished the town council it was the best day for local government that ever happened and I still believe it. It has given the smaller towns and villages we represent around the county an equal share of the county cake. We are elected as county councillors and not town councillors and we have to spread the money around the county equally,” he said.

While a critic of the abolition of town councils, Westport-based councillor Peter Flynn acknowledged that the days of the town councils have 'bolted' and it was time for a new model of funding.

“It is a shame that town councils have been criticised for being successful when we should be looking at them as the model to move forward. There is no need to get into a battle between urban and rural but it is important we come up with a structure which makes sure every part of our country is represented in a fair way,” he said.

Fianna Fáil whip on the county council, Cllr Damien Ryan said he was supportive of the abolition of town councils as it created a two-tier system where smaller towns did not have the 'luxury of a massive funding stream'. He said it was time that counties with a low rates base are provided with extra funding from the Department of Finance.

“The funding of the local authorities that don't have the large rates bases needs to be addressed. If we are serious about balanced regional development and social inclusion the local authorities who don't have the densities to collect the funding that keeps them sustainable needs to be looked at and the department of finance needs to step in there,” said the Ballinrobe-based councillor.

In response, Cllr Blackie pointed out that up to €1 million is collected from parking charges in Castlebar and the town does not receive that money to spend on projects. He added the ordinary man on the street has more power than councillors to make decisions and called for this to be changed.