A range of top speakers is being finalised for IMPACT’s seminar on the future of local government, which takes place in Dublin on 28^th April. Local government minister Phil Hogan will open the event and other confirmed speakers include Dublin city manager Owen Keegan, Joe Finnerty of University College Cork, Mike Allen of Focus Ireland, Jude Devins of the Local Authority Members’ Association and Mark Callanan of the Institute of Public Administration. Fingal county council manager Paul Reid will also speak.

Four representatives from each of IMPACT’s local government branches are being invited to attend the event, which is being organised in advance of the local elections. The seminar will examine changes in local authority structures and responsibilities and explore the challenges for local government in the decades ahead.

The seminar takes place after a significant year, which saw the publication of the Local Government Bill. The legislation heralds the abolition of town councils, mergers of other authorities, and a massive cull in the numbers of elected councilors. Local authority functions have also been diminished through the creation of Irish Water, the removal of driving licence renewals, and the privatisation of Dublin’s waste services.

IMPACT national secretary Peter Nolan has written to branches in the union’s Local Government and Municipal Employees’ divisions setting out details of the seminar.