Fórsa has welcomed the Government’s formal launch of the local democracy taskforce, highlighting it as a vital opportunity to reclaim and strengthen the role of local authorities in communities across Ireland.

National secretary Richy Carrothers, head of the union’s local government and local services division, said the union will ensure workers’ voices are front and centre in the discussions:

“Fórsa has been at the forefront of the campaign to reclaim the role of local authorities and local democracy. Local government touches every aspect of our daily lives and affects every citizen – young and old alike. It affects our schools, our homes, our public parks.”

The taskforce, announced by Minister James Browne T.D. and Minister of State John Cummins T.D., has been established to bring forward a programme of reform to improve the structure, funding, powers, and governance of local authorities. Fórsa has consistently raised the need for reform that empowers local authorities, delivers for citizens, and supports the workers who make services happen.

“The nature of our society is rapidly changing,” continued Richy. “Technology and social changes mean the way we work and live is constantly evolving. Strengthening Ireland’s local government offers us the unique opportunity to establish a new and better system – one which truly reflects and represents the changing and diverse nature of our society.”

Fórsa has long argued that local authorities are underpowered and underfunded, despite providing more than 1,100 public services, from housing and roads to climate action, parks, planning and emergency services. 

The union has spearheaded the More Power To You campaign alongside SIPTU and Connect, which has long pointed out how austerity, privatisation and centralisation have hollowed out our public services and stripped local authorities and communities of their democratic power.

Previously the union wrote to the minister and has engaged with government repeatedly on the need to restore and reform local democracy. As Richy noted at Fórsa’s recent local government division conference, this taskforce is the result of persistent campaigning. 

“We wrote to the minister when he was first appointed on this matter and said that we would use every opportunity at our disposal to ensure that the voice of local government workers is heard in the discussion. Now that the process has begun, we welcome the opportunity to take part and re-shape local democracy with workers at its heart.”

As the largest representative body in the sector, Fórsa is uniquely placed to contribute to the work of the taskforce, which has been established to reform and strengthen local government. To that end, Fórsa is formally requesting that we are considered for one of the “Independent and other experts” positions as detailed in the terms of reference”.

The taskforce is expected to deliver recommendations to Government within six to nine months.

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