Fine Gael has proposed merging or abolishing 95 State bodies and the freezing local business rates for the next five years.
Unveiling the party’s reform plans, environment spokesman Phil Hogan said local government was “in limbo, if not in crisis.”
He said under the plans local government would become the primary driver of business support and development at a local level. A total of 53 bodies would be amalgamated into local government with the abolition of 42 others, saving €70 million a year.
The plan, Local Government: ‘Power to the People – Bringing Local Government Back to the People’, also includes provision for separate transport and education plans brought into the planning process and in County and City Development Plans.
Fine Gael said it will support a directly-elected Lord Mayor for Dublin City for a term of five years from 2014 as long as “relevant, significant powers” for the Mayor have been decided upon.
"We want to see savings and efficiencies rather than new taxes and charges,” Mr Hogan added. “We need to restore trust, services and responsibility back to local government. “
