Athlone area to get municipal councils 'with more powers'

The Municipal Districts currently in place for the Athlone-Moate area of Westmeath, and the Athlone area of Roscommon, are set to be replaced in 2029 by new Municipal Councils which will have "enhanced budgetary and decision-making powers".

The announcement that Municipal Councils are to be established in each of the current local authority Muncipal District areas was made last Wednesday, more than 12 years after the town councils which had been in place across the country were abolished.

The planned change is the most significant recommendation in a Local Democracy Taskforce Report which was published by the Government.

Legislation to pave the way for the new Municipal Councils is due to be prepared by the end of next year, with the new bodies coming into force at the time of the next local elections in 2029.

In Westmeath, this would mean the current Athlone Moate Municipal District and Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District would each become Municipal Councils, while, in Roscommon, Municipal Councils would replace the current Municipal Districts in Athlone, Roscommon, and Boyle.

The taskforce does not propose any changes to the geographical areas that make up the current Municipal Districts, adding that this "will always be a matter for consideration in any review of local electoral areas in the future".

According to the Local Democracy Taskforce Report, the new Municipal Councils will be designed to deliver a system of local government that is "more responsive and engaged with communities".

The report also states that the Municipal Councils "should have a specific focus on revitalising towns while ensuring the vitality of surrounding rural areas".

The taskforce is recommending the establishment of Municipal Councils "for all local authorities," and it stated that, in addition to having "increased decision-making and budgetary powers", they will have "the ability to develop town programmes to drive reform".

The report of the taskforce states that the new Municipal Council system "is not a separate entity but a structure that enables more local decision-making, with the plenary council retaining its primacy".

The report says that, while the new structures will not take effect until the next council elections in June 2029, it was important to provide clarity about the new arrangements, "to give certainty to councillors and the teams in local authorities at least 12 months before" people go to the polls.Other recommendations in the taskforce's report included strengthening councillors' powers by introducing "statutory timeframes for executive responses" to their queries on certain issues, as well as enhanced supports and improved access to training and development.

A greater focus on communicating the role of local government to the public is also recommended.

"The taskforce noted a general lack of awareness, in both central government departments and the public, of the role of Municipal Districts in representing and meeting the needs of local communities," the report stated.

"This needs to be addressed through a range of ongoing communication and awareness-raising activities for the new Municipal Councils."

Commenting on the planned reforms, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, said they would "strengthen decision-making at local level" and "ensure that local voices have a greater role".

'Boxer', who served for many years as a town and county councillor, said: "People want local voices to be heard and local priorities to be reflected in decision-making.

"These reforms will give councillors greater responsibility in areas such as oversight, investment priorities and local decision-making, ensuring communities have a stronger influence over the future of their towns and villages."The OPW Minister described the planned establishment of Municipal Councils as being particularly important for rural Ireland.

"Stronger Municipal Councils will mean stronger representation for our towns, villages and rural communities. Local knowledge is invaluable, and these reforms will ensure it plays a greater role in shaping local solutions and directing investment where it is needed most.

An implementation steering group, chaired by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is due to oversee and coordinate delivery of the planned changes "across Government, local authorities and sectoral stakeholders".