Local election manifesto launched

Meath Councillor Joe Reilly, Dublin's Sorcha Nic Cormaic, Gerry Adams, Dublin's Daithí Doolan and Louth TD Arthur Morgan are pictured at the launch of the party's local election manifesto last week.

"Sinn Féin is campaigning for a strong system of local government, which is accountable, democratic, properly financed and has the maximum amount of powers devolved to it," said Joe Reilly. "Our councillors have shown that what can be achieved if you work with local communities and have a work record second to none.

"Reform of Local Government in this state is long overdue. Local government has not been working to its full potential for many years now. Decades of corruption, leading to planning chaos throughout the country, have marred the work of councils. Local authorities have also been deprived of the powers they need to represent and work for their constituents.

"Sinn Féin wants to see change in local government and our manifesto sets out our plans for its complete reform and this must involve placing local authorities on a sound and independent financial footing.

"Local government is about representing the people, and it must have the powers and resources to do this. At the moment, unelected city and county managers call the shots in the councils, not the democratically elected representatives of the people - the councillors themselves."

Sinn Féin wants to see:

a) Complete reform of local government with three tiers for local government in Ireland — regional, county and city and district councils.

b) The expansion of the powers and responsibilities of local authorities in the areas of education, employment, environment, health, housing and social services, as well as the ability to raise tax revenue.

c) The removal of the Minister of the Environment's power to abolish local councils.

d) Progressive increases in the proportion of Government spending on local government to reach a target of 20% by 2009.

e) Appointment procedures to agencies such as Health Boards should come under the remit of local government instead of being the spoils of office of central government.

f) Directly elected, full-time Cathaoirligh of City and County Councils who would take over many of the responsibilities currently held by unelected city and county managers.