Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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The last time the Minister of State was in the Chamber, he and I had a conversation about the delays in people getting driving tests. I take this opportunity to compliment him on his work in that area. He set out ambitious targets and I am delighted to congratulate him this afternoon on the work and the progress he has made there. Maith thú in that regard.

Ireland's system of local government has been described as one of the weakest in the EU, with a 2023 Council of Europe report describing it as one of the most centralised countries in Europe. The EU average for tax revenue spent at local level is 23%. In Ireland, it is just 8%. Ireland scores just above Moldova and Hungary on the local authority index. We also fall short when it comes to representation, with 5,196 people per councillor here in Ireland, compared with 412 in Finland and 620 in Spain. We have the second lowest number of elected representatives in the EU because of the abolition of town councils, which were very cost-efficient and represented the citizens and people of their areas. Now the re-establishment of town councils, abolished over a decade ago under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, is outlined in the programme for Government as a priority to provide a focus point for our towns and to co-ordinate activities. The Taoiseach has indicated a goal of having these re-established by 2029. Eighty town councils were abolished in 2014 under the Local Government Reform Act by the then Minister, Phil Hogan. This shifted financial decisions from town councils to county councils, slashed the number of councillors by over 40% and introduced municipal districts.

I understand that the plan is to reintroduce the councils on a phased, regional basis, starting with large towns as a way to improve local representation and accountability. The move has the potential to strengthen the powers of municipal districts and the area committees, providing towns with a dedicated body to raise concerns and co-ordinate actions. The abolition of town councils in 2014 was clearly not fully thought out at the time and has led to a loss of local leadership and accountability. The move did not actually result in the €400 million projected savings at the time, in 2019, and indeed, Labour's Brendan Howlin at the time called the restoration of town councils an admission that it had been a mistake to abolish them in the first instance.

The Taoiseach has suggested bringing back town councils through a pilot scheme in the areas where town councils existed previously and in new locations where populations are increasing. Town councils were very effective entities that ensured that the needs of the urban areas were not forgotten. Former town councillors, of whom I am one myself, will say that town councils were efficient and accountable, because money raised in a town stayed in that town.The re-establishment of town councils also has the potential to bring more new people into politics at local and ground level, including many women and young people. They were, if you like, a platform for people to dip their toes into political life to see how it went. We need much more of that. Clearly, I understand that restoring town councils is a logistical challenge but I also understand that the local democracy task force set up to fund these functions is due to report shortly. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could provide us with an update this afternoon.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Before I call the Minister of State, I wish to welcome a few people to the Gallery who have come in. This is the second tranche from the Cistercian College Roscrea, who are guests of Senator Maria Byrne. They are very welcome. There are also guests of Deputy Danny Healy-Rae and Senator Teresa Costello in the Gallery. They are very welcome, as are Ms Sharon Hynes and Ms McDonald. They are all very welcome and I hope they enjoy their stay here in the House.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I welcome every guest here. It is an opportune time to listen about local government. I was looking at the young people and wondering how many of them will enter politics in the future. It is an opportune time to listen to local government being discussed here.

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, to update the House on the local democracy task force. At the outset, it is important to note that the Local Government Reform Act 2014 dissolved 80 town councils, which represented just 14% of the population. This town council system had led to duplication, both in administrative and electoral terms. Instead, the Local Government Reform Act 2014 saw the introduction of 95 municipal districts, representing 100% of the population in 25 of the 31 local authorities at sub-county level, with area committees operating in the three cities, namely, Cork, Dublin and Galway, as well as three Dublin county authorities. Each municipal district can include several towns, villages and their hinterlands, with local matters dealt with at municipal district level and the wider strategic issues decided at county level. The result is an integrated administrative structure in each county which maximises operational efficiency while ensuring devolved decision-making throughout the county.

I acknowledge that more work needs to be done to ensure that the potential of the municipal districts is fully realised. As such, the programme for Government recognises the need to strengthen the framework and powers of municipal districts. The programme for Government commits to the establishment of a local democracy task force with the local government sector to finalise a programme for the reform and strengthening of local government. This commitment demonstrates the important role that the local government sector plays in our democracy through the delivery of essential services in Ireland. The task force will bring forward proposals that the Government will consider on matters relating to the structure, finance, functions, governance and accountability of local government.

The Government approved the establishment of the local democracy task force on 4 June and it will make its recommendations in line with its terms of reference. The task force is supported in its work through pillar groups. The pillar groups are comprised of organisations that have a strong footprint within the local government sector, such as the AILG, LAMA, CCMA and LGMA, along with Government Department representatives relevant to the particular pillar theme.

The task force also undertook a targeted stakeholder consultation process seeking input from a range of stakeholders from across the local authority sector. All submissions received by the task force are publicly available online on the Department’s website. The task force will bring forward proposals in 2026 and I know the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, look forward to receiving and considering the recommendations of the task force in due course.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive response. We are, and I am sure the Minister of State will agree, very fortunate to have so many hard-working councillors throughout this country, and we must always strive to expand their role in their local areas and enhance the terms and conditions of those elected members. As these young people leave the Gallery this afternoon, we need more platforms for those young people to enter politics.Currently, that is cut off from them. By having town councils in place and back in situ, those young people who wish to be public representatives and represent their towns will have a platform, as I said, where they can dip their toe into local democracy and maybe expand on that, if it is what they wish to do.

It is widely recognised it was a huge mistake to abolish town councils. I look forward to the publication of this report in 2026. I look for the Government to progress the recommendations of that report so that towns the length and the breadth of the country can look forward to having their own voice, and having people from their own towns representing the needs and ambitions of those towns.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Well said. I thank the Senator.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I concur with the Senator on the hard work done by our local councillors on the ground with very little recognition for it. Since the time I was a councillor, the workload has increased for a lot of councillors. We need to recognise that as well. If we want to engage with and attract more young people into politics, both male and female, it is important they have access to get into the politics of it.

I thank the Senator for his engagement on this matter and on the process that will see reform and strengthening of the local government sector, which is the beating heart of our democracy. The task force will build on the substantial body of work already completed by the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, the Seanad and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities reports. In this regard, I acknowledge the work of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee, chaired by the Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, and its report on the future of local democracy, which was published in 2024. It is important that we await the findings of the task force, which is chaired by Jim Breslin, who was appointed by the Minister. I too look forward to seeing the report because it is very important for democracy, and for every region and every town, that we have good democracy and plenty of engagement, so every town feels it is being represented and being heard as well, which is important. I thank the Senator.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I once again thank the Minister of State for giving us his time amid his busy schedule. It is always difficult to make time but it is always appreciated when Ministers come to this House.