It’s claimed Clare’s road infrastructure, housing delivery and social amenities would all be in a better place today if Town Councils were never abolished.
It comes as the Taoiseach has signalled his intention to restore elements of local authorities that were axed eleven years ago.
Town councils were a second tier of local government, which were replaced by municipal districts in 2014 under the Local Government Reform Act as part of austerity era cost saving measures.
They may now be coming back however, following the coalition’s pledge to review local democracy in the Programme for Government, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin now saying he wants to see them re-established within three years.
Town councils existed in Ennis, Kilrush, Kilkee and Shannon which had their own budgets, bye laws and limited powers that could be enacted independently of Clare County Council.
Former Mayor of Ennis and Town Councillor Michael Guilfoyle says it was a backwards step and that the people’s voice is no longer being heard.
There were 36 town council seats in Clare in total and all of these were eliminated with the 2014 legislation change.
Former Independent Shannon Town Councillor Patricia McCarthy believes local government needs a facelift, as she says power has been stripped away from elected representatives in vital areas such as health, roads and housing.
A former Kilrush Town Councillor, meanwhile, claims the Council’s grassroots connection has been lost and that the effects can be clearly seen on the ground.
Deirdre Culligan, who was elected in 2004, said the people of West Clare have been alienated since.
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