Sir, – Your recent Editorial (“Reforming local government”, December 23rd) is timely, with a new year bringing VAT increases and deeper cuts in health, education and social services, and with more to come.
Yet we see no reduction in the number of our 114 separate elected local councils and three separate associations of councillors. These all continue to be funded by our taxes without any party calls for a major reduction in numbers.
Instead we are to have a property tax to fund local government so parties can gear up for local elections in 2014. Tax increases and cutbacks for ordinary folks, but protection for our politicians at all costs. We cannot afford to continue like this. About 14 councils would suffice for Ireland and deliver much improved efficiencies, cost savings and stronger local government capable of removing local issues from national politics. But our self-serving political elite always seems to put its own interests first.
Government now says we may have some token reduction in local authorities, although not until 2014. But no such delay in extra taxes and in cutbacks affecting the vulnerable.
In the public interest we need radical reform of local government now, not a Mickey Mouse effort in two years’ time, to suit political interests. For once let’s see our politicians lead the way with real public sector reform and austerity and face up to necessary cutbacks affecting themselves. The ever-suffering public should demand no less. – Yours, etc,