Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 29, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:

"CHAPTER 1

Community Councils

Community councils

19. The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following Part after Part 3:

"PART 3A

COMMUNITY COUNCILS

22A. (1) Every city and county council shall designate community council areas throughout its local authority area.

(2) The community councils would be on a statutory basis so that all agencies involved are obliged to act accordingly to that plan as passed by the councils.

(3) The structure of each such community council area shall reflect the natural community of that area and each village and town shall have its own community council.

(4) The number of members on each community council shall be between the range of 10 to 15 (dependent on population).

(5) Members of the community council shall consist of local councillors, statutory agencies, residents and representatives from the local community and voluntary sector.

(6) Residents shall be elected to the community council annually; such election shall take place at an annual general meeting of the community council.

(7) Membership of the community council will be on a voluntary basis.

(8) Persons registered on the register of electors for the particular year shall be invited to the annual general meeting and each such person shall be entitled to vote to elect community council members.

(9) Each community council may extend ex-officio, non-voting positions to representatives of local community groups, local councillors, statutory agencies and representatives from the local community and voluntary sector. Community groups shall be registered with the relevant local authority. Community and voluntary sector representatives would be nominated by their respective networks.

(10) Community councils may draft Local Area Plans in conjunction with the executive of the relevant local authority and any such plans so drafted shall only be put to the relevant local authority for approval following a vote of persons on the register of electors of the relevant community council area.

(11) The plans would be on 6 year cycles in line with city and county development plans.

(12) Community councils shall be consulted on any major planning applications within that community council’s area and shall be invited to make submissions on same to the relevant local authority.

(13) Community council functions will include—

(a) organising local community events,

(b) organising plebiscites on matters including street name changes,

(c) organising community levies for specific projects, including playgrounds, sports facilities and parks,

(d) allocation of funding for lighting, traffic calming measures, upkeep of play areas and minor remediation measures, and

(e) establish advisory councils on community-based planning to provide a forum for discussion and development of the framework for community-based planning.".

This amendment is in essence about the setting up of voluntary community councils. We are not talking about an extra cost. There are many voluntary community councils throughout the State as well as local development groups, forums and committees in towns, villages and suburbs. What we are seeking to do is to link these into the local authority system.

These community councils could deal with a number of issues, for example, local area plans, community functions involving plebiscites and events, local community levies, the allocation of funding for minor remediation works, etc. We are trying to strengthen and recognise what is in place, to put it on a sounder footing and to link it with the local authority system. It is not a question of creating another layer of bureaucracy. Rather, it is a question of recognising the role of these voluntary groups, which have various names, and putting them on a proper electoral footing. This issue is often raised. From time to time, every Deputy attends public meetings called by various groups. In the case of a small number of groups, questions are asked about where they get their mandate from and how they are elected. Sinn Féin is seeking to ensure such groups are representative of the communities they claim to represent and are linked with the local authority system. They deal with local matters that should not tie up the next tier of local government.

In recent years, there has been much talk of social engagement and citizen engagement. We in this country are good in those respects compared with other countries, but we are in danger of losing that engagement, particularly in cities. It is still fairly good in rural areas, but our amendment is intended to improve civic participation and ensure it is done in a democratic way.

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