Referendum for Castlebar on local government?

Referendum for Castlebar on local government?


Edwin McGreal

There could be a local referendum on the future of local government in Castlebar following the passing of a motion to that effect on Thursday last.
Cllr Therese Ruane proposed the motion calling on Minister of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, to reconsider his plans to abolish town councils. Cllr Ruane’s motion called for a ‘consultation process and/or referendum with the people of Castlebar’.
Speaking at the June meeting of Castlebar Town Council, she said this tied in with the democratic principles of the Council of Europe and described Minister Hogan’s reform as ‘populist’ and ‘a sham’.
Admitting Castlebar Town Council have ‘probably missed the boat’ with the motion considering the reforms were proposed last year, she said having such a referendum of the people in Castlebar would ‘make a statement’. She said that if the changes go through, Ireland would have the second most centralised system of governance in Europe, behind the UK.
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said that ‘some day soon’ another government will look to reintroduce town councils. Cllr Harry Barrett said the nine current town councillors ‘have the good of Castlebar at heart’ unlike ‘out of town councillors’.
Cllr Noreen Heston said she was against the motion as she agreed with the abolition of the town councils and accused some of her council colleagues of ‘scaremongering’ when they said there would be no town council staff, including a town clerk, after reforms.
However Town Clerk Marie Crowley shook her head when Cllr Heston said there would be a town clerk after reforms. The motion was passed with Cllr Heston dissenting. How the matter may proceed is very much uncertain.