Dáil debates

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Direct Election of Mayor Plebiscite Regulations 2019: Motion

 

4:50 pm

Photo of Michael CollinsMichael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This motion is on the proposals for directly elected mayors with executive functions. What I want to know is if there is going to be a separate mayor for Cork county? All the talk is about Cork city but the county is there too. I know the Government has forgotten it down through the years but surely to God I do not need to keep reminding the Government. How much is the directly elected mayor going to cost the taxpayer and what value for money will the hard-working taxpayer see from these directly elected mayors? There are loads of questions and the rush of this through the Dáil leaves many unanswered questions.

Internationally, some directly elected mayors have been very successful but in some cases directly elected mayors have not demonstrated the value of the office and voters have, in some instances, chosen to abolish the office of directly elected mayors. I have looked at the detailed policy proposals on directly elected mayors with executive functions and the report is fluffing around the real costs for this type of mayor. The report says there are a number of possible options for the salary of the directly elected mayor, ranging from €94,535 up to €129,854 per annum, which is equivalent to the salary of a Minister. On top of this, the report suggested that directly elected mayors should also receive an annual vouched expenses allowance of €16,000. They have special advisers, they have drivers, they have managers, they have cars and they have offices. We are talking about €500,000. The real question here is if the public fully are informed as to how much of taxpayers' money will be spent on this directly elected mayor and the information needs to be made clear in a transparent manner to the public before they vote. Before the public vote, there should be strict decisions made on the salary of these mayors and not a proposed range of salary.

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