The Seanad Public Consultation Committee chaired by the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, is seeking the public’s views on the Future of Local Democracy ahead of the Local Elections in June 2024.
The Committee will explore the Future of Local Democracy across the following themes:
- Public engagement and participation in the local government process and functions
- The powers of local authorities, and
- The impact of changes to the local government process, such as the abolition of town councils and the introduction of directly elected mayors.
The Seanad Public Consultation Committee is particularly interested in hearing from and the views and/or experiences of:
- Members of the public and local community groups;
- Those representing minorities, women for election and young people, and reflective of the diversity of Irish society;
- Academics and experts in the field of local democracy;
- Ministers and members of local authorities past and present;
- AILG & LAMA and their counterparts in Northern Ireland and other jurisdictions;
- Secretary Generals and representatives of political parties;
- Responsible Departments
- Current and former local authority CEOs / Directors of Service; and
- Those working in local government.
The closing date for submissions is Friday, 29 September 2023. Full details on the call for submissions and how to make a submission can be found here.