Commenting further on Minister Hogan's Local Government Reform Proposals announced, the Green Party welcomes the proposals to introduce plebiscites, town and area meetings, community forums and wider participative planning methodologies, but criticises the lack of any substance to the proposals and lack of either financial or staff resources to such proposals.

"Meaningful community participation in local decision making does, however, require having the right resources. I don't see how the Minister can propose an entire shift in how Local Authorities interact with the people they serve, while at the same time planning further cuts in staffing and boasting that his reform programme will net €420 million in savings to the exchequer," said Green Party Spokesperson for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Cllr Malcolm Noonan.

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"If anything, such an approach will require extra staffing as such expertise cannot be easily transferred from Water Services or Waste Management to the Community and Enterprise section. In order to engage in such an expansive project, Local Authorities will need to either employ or train a specific skill-sets aimed at activating and empowering communities that have been starved of meaningful involvement in decision making for decades," he continued.

The Green Party has stated further that there may be merit in retaining town councils on a completely voluntary basis; led by community leaders, chambers of commerce, voluntary groups and in particular youth councils and youth organisations. "Such models exist in many EU States but do require resources to support their work. Community led town councils could have a powerful role in policymaking and community engagement, and would be no threat to the elected member of County Councils," Cllr Noonan said.

(CD)