Policy decisions to replace town authorities with a new model of municipal governance were designed to strengthen local government within counties and to address widely acknowledged and long-standing weaknesses and anomalies in the previous system, including the problems of divided administration between town and county authorities, for example, in relation to matters such as planning, rating and charges.
Municipal districts now cover the entire territory of each county, reflecting European norms, removing outdated boundaries and ending the anomaly of small towns having municipal status and dual representation, while some larger centres and rural areas lacked any sub-county governance. As well as creating a more rational and comprehensive structural arrangement, the new system will over time result in more effective and community-focused decision making and implementation. Moreover, under the new arrangements, there is full integration of local authority resources across each county and elimination of duplication both in administrative and electoral terms.
A further important rationale for the new system is a more appropriate assignment of local authority functions. The performance of different functions by members at county and municipal district levels will result in greater effectiveness than the previous parallel town and county system, which involved a significant element of duplication. The division of functions between county and district has been determined on the basis of what is most relevant to each level. Local matters are to be dealt with at municipal district level, while those of wider strategic application are being decided at county level, without duplication between county and district jurisdictions.
It is important to bear in mind in relation to the new sub-county governance arrangements that we are in the very early stages of reform. Municipal districts only came into operation on 1 June 2014 and 2015 will be the first full year of their operation. Against this background, I have initiated an evaluation process on the operation of the new structures through a broadly based advisory group which my Department has recently reconvened together with a working group for engagement with the Association of Irish Local Government, both of which played an important role in the early stages of the local government reform process. The groups will give particular consideration to how the new governance arrangements are impacting on towns and whether any adjustments are needed in light of experience to date, including civic aspects, such as the status of mayors of borough and municipal districts and the economic and community development of towns.
The thrust of Government policy remains to strengthen local government and foster the potential for improved subsidiarity, coherence and efficiency, resulting in greater value for money for the taxpayer and, ultimately, improved service delivery for citizens. The review that I have initiated will provide a sound evidence base upon which to consider any further developments to local government and local democracy.
