Limerick City Council is corrupt! I'm not trying to say that our local authority is rife with bribery and brown envelopes. By corrupt I mean that it is failing to function as it is intended to.

Our constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, clearly states:
Article 28A.1: "The State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities."

Many areas in Limerick have been badly neglected and virtually abandoned by our local authority; Limerick City Council seems more concerned in promoting the interests of business than those of the community.
We belong to the second richest nation on earth and yet some of our estates are witness to scenes reminiscent of the third world, with burnt out houses and rubbish strewn everywhere.

Limerick City Council has responsibility for some 250 derelict houses in various estates and for years they have neglected to do anything about them. All their efforts have gone into the regeneration of commercial areas with land and property owned by the council sold to developers. Compulsory Purchase orders have been used to acquire some of this land. There would be nothing wrong with this if our Council had applied itself with equal enthusiasm to the regeneration of residential areas in its care.

The void left by the privatisation of our refuse collection was never adequately filled. Our Council does not keep clean the property in its care and we don't have enough Litter Wardens. When a place becomes a dump it encourages further dumping. However, when a place is kept clean it discourages not only dumping but littering as well. It is in nobody's interest to allow a place to become a dump, unless of course you're fond of feeding rats.

The main problem is that the un-elected officials actually have more power than our Councillors. Those elected by the people can only hope to influence the policies adopted by the Council; they cannot direct them. The only real power that our councillors have is the buying and selling of public property.

This is a problem that can only be addressed in Dáil Éireann, by amending existing legislation.

I believe that we should give Councillors more power to decide and direct policy so that they can promote the interests of the communities who elect them. The position of Councillor should be a full time job with a salary equal to that of the average industrial wage. Many councillors already commit themselves full time to the job, but officially it is a part time one. We should have direct elections for the position of Mayor, whose status and power should be equal to that of the City Manager. If elected to Dáil Éireann I will work to introduce these changes.