Fianna Fáil is urging residents and businesses across Letterkenny to make their voices heard at a meeting opposing the abolition of Letterkenny Town Council.
Cllr Ciaran Brogan
The cross-party meeting, arranged by public representatives from all sides, takes place at Public Service Centre in Letterkenny at 7pm on Tuesday, 05 November.
Fianna Fáil Leader on Donegal County Council Ciarán Brogan said the loss of Letterkenny town council would be a major blow to Donegal.
“Letterkenny is a role model town council. It has taken the lead in developing Letterkenny and making the town a more attractive place to live in and to work in, and a more attractive place for investors,” said Cllr Brogan.
“Letterkenny was one of the first town councils in the country to hire a litter warden and to have its own town gardener. It has an excellent working relationship with Donegal County Council, resulting in significant investment in local amenities, such as Bernard McGlinchy park, Ballymacool park, Ballyboe park and Aura Leisure Centre. It works closely with sporting organisations and the community, operating 90 residents’ associations,” explained Cllr Brogan.
“The town structure has served this community well and there is no doubt that Letterkenny would not be where it is if it wasn’t for the council working on behalf of the community. But now the Government now wants to bulldoze through this. It wants to abolish the system where local decisions are made by local people.
“This Tuesday, Letterkenny has an opportunity to speak with one voice and demand that our town council is retained. We need to strengthen democracy in Donegal, not weaken it. We need greater community input into the decisions that are made on our behalf. Letterkenny is the only cross-border gateway in the country and it needs the strong leadership that the council provides.
“The Environment Minister Phil Hogan, who is leading the charge on abolishing town councils, is in Donegal on Thursday and Friday of next week. So far he has refused the council’s request to meet him about this extremely retrograde step. I am appealing to the Minister to facilitate a meeting with a cross-party delegation from Letterkenny Town Council while he is here. The very least he could do is hear them out.”
Tags: