Offaly councillor elected vice-president of the Association of Irish Local Government

Offaly Independent councillor, Sean O' Brien, has been elected as vice-president of the Association Of Irish Local Government (AILG).

This body represents all 949 elected councillors in Ireland, provides training for councillors, and represents them in negotiations with the government.

Nominated by the Independent Group in the AILG, Cllr O'Brien was elected at the AGM in Mullingar on Thursday last.

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, from Athlone, was elected as president, thus ensuring an all-midlands team at the helm for the coming year.

"I am honoured to be elected as vice-president of  this important body in Irish local government,” said Cllr O'Brien.

“This is a very significant time for local government in Ireland, as the government launched the findings of the Local Democracy Taskforce last week, and the implementation of the recommendation in that report will begin in the  immediate future. This is the biggest reform of local government in a generation and I will use my position to ensure that councillors have the voice, representation and supports that they need to meet the challenges ahead," he added.

Further commenting on the Local Democracy Taskforce, Cllr O' Brien said it offers 'an opportunity to strengthen local democracy'.

“The government has committed to implementing 79 measures from now until 2029. There will be more powers for councillors, it will improve local decision-making, and give local communities a greater say in how areas are run. There will be new municipal councils with more powers. There will be statutory response times for councillor queries and questions, and also administrative and secretarial support for councillors," he outlined.

"This is not just about giving councillors more power for its own sake. It is about ensuring that the elected councillors have the authority, support and tools that they need to deliver better outcomes for the local communities they represent. The recommendations in the report recognise the important role that councillors play in representing their communities and responding to local needs.  Local councillors are the closest level of government to the people. Every day we work with local communities to improve local services, support local development and respond to the issues that matter most to residents. The challenge now is to ensure that these recommendations move beyond paper and are fully implemented, and I look forward to real and meaningful progress in the months and years ahead," concluded Cllr O'Brien.