Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This morning, I got the chance to speak with representatives from the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA. My colleague, Senator Craughwell, mentioned it and I know this is something the Leader is aware of also. LAMA represents councillors across 31 local authorities and it has been working hard to raise concerns about the working conditions that are driving many away from local politics, which is very worrying. It is an issue I have raised many times in this House, as have several colleagues from across the political divide. Since the Local Government Reform Act 2014, councillors have seen a big change in their role.I speak to them regularly, and consistently hear they struggle to cover larger areas with limited time and resources. Local councillors are often the first port of call for people, especially the vulnerable, who have an issue or problem. Aside from attending council meetings and votes, they need to ensure they are available if someone needs help, if a crucial local service is not working or if a person relies on State support to get by, they have to be there to answer the call. This leads to councillors trying to play a full-time role but out of hours or by taking unpaid leave. As councillors are not paid a full-time wage, most need to keep up employment in another job, which is then put under great pressure. For many councillors who do not have much flexibility in work or do not come from a wealthy background, it is simply not possible to do the job properly. The obvious issue is that it squeezes people on lower incomes out of local government. So many fantastic councillors - people who represented their local community so well - have been forced to step away from the role because it just was not sustainable. Local and national government will be much worse off if we continue to shut out people from different socioeconomic backgrounds. While some of the reforms in recent years, to expenses and allowances, have been welcome, the feedback is that the process is very complicated and has not resolved the deeper issues. Ultimately, we need a real debate on the role we want for local councillors and local government, and on how inclusive we want the position to be. Currently, we are caught between two poles. It is not a voluntary position with a low level of commitment, but neither is it not a full-time position with the resources available to do it properly. I have never met a councillor who took up the role because he or she sought a high-earning career. They just want the job to be sustainable.

In this light, I call on the Government finally to publish the Moorhead report examining the issues. Plans need to be outlined to deal with pay and conditions, to support attending meetings and to examine the mileage system. As we begin another five-year term following the local elections, I ask that the Government do this as a matter of urgency.

As I was not in the Chamber last week, I send my condolences to Gay Byrne's family. As Senators will know, he played a pivotal role in my career and will be sadly missed. All my family loved him dearly. He was a neighbour of ours and we will miss him dearly.