MAYOR OF BALLINASLOE DISAPPOINTED AT TOWN COUNCIL REFORM PLANS
Date Published: 16-Oct-2012
The Mayor of Ballinasloe Carmel Grealy has hit out at plans to scrap the local town council.
It follows an announcement by Environment Minister Phil Hogan this afternoon that Tuam, Ballinasloe and Loughrea Town Councils are among those to be scrapped.
Nationally, the action plan entitled 'Putting People First' will see the abolition of 83 local authorities - nearly all of them town councils - as part of plans to save 420 million euro.
They'll be replaced with a new system of municipal districts operating under the county or city council system.
The number of Councillors will also be slashed by 42 per cent - from over sixteen-hundred to nine-hundred-and-fifty.
Speaking to Galway Bay fm news this afternoon, Ballinasloe Mayor Carmel Grealy says it's a sad blow to local democracy