Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 29, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:“19. The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following Part after Part 3:

22A. (1) Every city and county council shall designate Community Council Areas throughout its local authority area.

(2) 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.
(3) The number of members on each Community Council shall be between the range of 7 to 15 (towns shall have 15 members and villages shall have 7 members).
(4) Members of the Community Council shall undertake their duties on a voluntary basis.
(5) Community Council members shall be elected annually, such election shall take place at an annual general meeting of the Community Council.
(6) 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.
(7) Each Community Council may extend ex-officio, non-voting positions to representatives of local community groups, such groups shall be chosen at the annual general Meeting.
(8) 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.
(9) 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.
(10) Community Councils may organise matters such as —

(a) local community events,
(b) plebiscites on matters including street name changes, and
(c) community levies for specific projects, including playgrounds, sports facilities, parks.”.”.