Strengthening local government

When I was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, I took on the role with a very clear understanding of both the importance of local government and the challenges and opportunities it presents, writes John Cummins TD.

That understanding did not come from a briefing document or policy paper; it came from experience.

Before entering national politics, I spent 11 years serving as a councillor and had the honour of serving as Mayor of Waterford on two occasions. Those years gave me a firsthand appreciation of the central role local government plays in communities right across Ireland. They also showed me the dedication of councillors and local authority staff who work every day to improve the places people call home.

Local government is the level of government closest to the people. It is where issues that matter most to communities are dealt with directly, such as housing, roads, public spaces, planning, regeneration, and local economic development. Councillors are often the first point of contact when people need help, and local authorities deliver vital services day in and day out. And that work should never be underestimated.

But while I know the strengths and opportunities that exist within local government, I am also acutely aware that our system is not operating at full capacity and in a way it can and should.

Over many years, an imbalance has developed between elected representatives and executive management. Too often, councillors, the people directly elected by the public, do not have sufficient powers, access to information, or influence within the system. That has to change.

One of my major priorities as minister is to strengthen local democracy and rebalance power within local government. That is precisely why I established the Local Democracy Taskforce.

The purpose of the taskforce was simple, to take a serious and honest look at how local government needs to evolve in Ireland. Its work examined the powers available to councillors, governance structures, accountability mechanisms, finance, access to information, and the relationship between elected members and executive management.

The report produced by the taskforce is extensive and will require legislative change. I am currently working with my officials on an implementation plan that will be brought to cabinet shortly.

I believe very strongly that councillors need greater powers and a stronger role in shaping decisions within their local authorities. They are elected by the people they represent, and they must be properly empowered to carry out that mandate.

Councillors also need timely and meaningful access to information. They cannot effectively represent their communities if they are excluded from key information or decisions. Equally, executive management within local authorities must be accountable for delivery and performance.

This is not about creating conflict between councillors and officials. In my experience, the best outcomes are achieved when both work together; constructively and with mutual respect.

“I firmly believe local government has the potential to play an even greater role in shaping Ireland’s future.”

Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning John Cummins TD

But there must be a proper democratic balance, and in many cases that balance has shifted too far away from elected representatives. Strengthening local democracy is one side of the equation. The other is ensuring local authorities are delivering consistently and effectively for the public.

People may have noticed a particular focus from me in recent months on the performance of local authorities across the country. That focus is intentional. Whether it is the delivery of social housing, tackling vacancy and dereliction, or ensuring regeneration funding is fully utilised, there should never be huge discrepancies between local authorities.

Communities rightly expect the same level of ambition and delivery regardless of where they live. Since becoming minister, I have travelled to almost every local authority in the country. I have met councillors, chief executives, housing teams, and officials to discuss targets, progress, and challenge under performance where it exists.

Those meetings have been extremely valuable because they have highlighted both the excellent work happening in many counties and the areas where improvements are urgently needed.

The reality is that the majority of local authorities are doing very good work under significant pressure. There are committed teams delivering housing, revitalising towns and villages, and improving local services every day. They deserve recognition for that work.

However, there are also local authorities that are lagging behind in critical areas. Underperformance, delays, and failure to utilise available funding cannot simply be accepted.

One area where this is particularly important is vacancy and dereliction. Across Ireland, communities are frustrated by the number of vacant and derelict properties sitting idle while there is strong demand for housing and town centre regeneration. Significant government funding is available to tackle these issues, and I expect local authorities to use those resources effectively and with urgency.

Equally, on housing delivery, every target matters because behind every number is a person or family waiting for a home. Local authorities have a critical role to play in addressing our housing challenges and there must be accountability around delivery.

Despite the challenges, I remain optimistic about the future of local government in Ireland because I know the calibre of people working within it. During times of crisis and challenge, we have repeatedly seen the professionalism, commitment, and resilience of those working across our councils.

As minister, my priority is to ensure local government is empowered, accountable, and delivering to the highest possible standard.

I want a system where councillors have a stronger voice, where local authorities perform consistently, and where communities can have confidence that local democracy is working for them.

I firmly believe local government has the potential to play an even greater role in shaping Ireland’s future. My focus now is on delivering the reforms and standards needed to make that happen.

John Cummins TD is the Minister of State for Local Government and Planning. The Fine Gael TD was elected to Dáil Éireann in November 2024 representing Waterford.