Kilkenny County Council has agreed to a proposal by Cllr Tomás Breathnach, that it convene a special meeting in September to discuss the recommendations on local government included in the Snip Report.
According to Cllr Breathnach, it is vital that the council meet to get full details of the recommendations which would impact on the provision of council services and more importantly the impact that these recommendations might would have on the people of Kilkenny.
Among the concerns raised were the financial cuts that were recommended. Kilkenny County Council had to reduce its current expenditure in 2009 by €2.5m and the review group is now proposing further reductions for all local authorities in the years to come.
”The review group also recommended the reduction of the number of local authorities around the country from 34 to 22, which has huge implications for the system of local government in the country, which this year was celebrating 110 years of local democracy,” he pointed out.
He added that the recommendation to abolish regional authorities also had serious implications, particularly in the current climate, as greater cooperation between counties was something to be promoted.
“A recommendation to abolish the mechanism for such cooperation would, if implemented, be a major set back for regional policy in the country,” stated Cllr Breathnach.
