Time for change in local government

Speaking at the launch of their local government manifesto with East Meath local election candidate Sinéad Burke, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said the party’s record on local issues spoke for itself and that the priority in this election would be protecting the public from savage cutbacks to services and helping local business retain and create new jobs.

Ms. Burke said “Sinn Féin’s reputation as excellent local representatives for the public has been well earned. Our record stands for itself. In every council we have been elected to we have been a catalyst for change and reform.

“For example, Sinn Féin submissions to local Policing Plans has secured more community Gardaí. Our councillors in Kerry have ensured that zoning changes are now community-led not developer-led. In Monaghan we have ensured the lowest commercial rate increases in the State, including zero percent in 2009. In Meath we have led the campaign to ensure investment in the county, to create jobs and provide infrastructure. We have worked with the community to oppose Management Fees, oppose incineration and promote initiatives such as Dial To Stop Drug Dealing and the tourism sector.

“Local government funding continues to be slashed by Fianna Fail, leaving the county manager to impose cuts in services and penalise communities and businesses. This policy will actually result in more job losses. This policy harms both the local economy and society. The priority in the years ahead for Sinn Féin councillors in Meath will be retaining and creating jobs and protecting communities from service cuts. We will use the each council to help businesses thrive.

“People are rightly angry at the manner in which this government has ruined the economy and now seeks to make working families pay for a crisis not of their making. But voters need to turn their anger into action and vote for Sinn Féin in Meath.”

The manifesto sets out a range of measures that will return power to local communities. These include:

• Protecting the public and business from double taxation in the form of new service charges or user fees for essential public services.


• A review of councillors and committee chairs' expenses - accountable and efficient spending of local authority finances.


• Increasing front-line and community policing to ensure Gardai are on patrol in the locations and at the times when they are most needed.


• Preventing incinerators being imposed on communities.


• Doubling social housing targets and ensuring unit for unit replacement of social housing units. Local One Stop Shops to provide support for Small to Medium enterprises.


• Making sure development is public-led and not developer-led.


• Fair rates that don’t penalize enterprise and allow businesses to keep and grow new jobs. Scrapping of the fundamentally flawed community childcare subvention scheme and keeping open local community crèches.


• Return of power to local councils and communities.


• Using positions on VECs to advocate a coordinated approach between VECs, FÁS and third level institutions to ensure sufficient provision of local training for sectors that will provide jobs in the coming decades.