Local Democracy Taskforce presents final report with recommendations for reform of local government in Ireland
- Published on: 4 March 2026
- Last updated on: 4 March 2026
Minister Browne and Minister of State Cummins to consider report before developing an implementation plan for Government approval
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins TD, today received the final report of the Local Democracy Taskforce.
The Ministers will now carefully consider the report and a plan to implement its recommendations will be developed and presented to Government for approval in the coming weeks. At this stage, both the Report and the Implementation Plan will be published.
The Taskforce was established with the aim of finalising a programme of reform and strengthening of local government in Ireland.
The Terms of Reference for the Taskforce, agreed by Government last June, set out an ambitious and detailed work programme, intended to give rise to a series of reforms in the local government sector.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said:
“The establishment of the Local Democracy Taskforce was a key priority in the Programme for Government and the pace at which the Taskforce completed their task is to be commended. I have no doubt that this work will pave the way for the next generation of local government reform.
“With our local authorities providing over 1,100 services to the citizens of Ireland, now more than ever we need to bring forward measures for reform that ensure that our local democracy functions in the best way possible. I would like to thank the members of the Taskforce for their commitment in producing this report and I look forward to considering its recommendations”
The Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins, said he is pleased to see the culmination of this process with the presentation of the final report of the Taskforce as it lends itself to introducing the necessary changes that continue to improve our local authority sector into the future. He commented:
“The Taskforce set about this process by examining a number of central themes within the sector, most notably the structures, functions, governance and funding arrangements of local authorities.
“I will now consider the recommendations presented in the report along with the actions identified to deliver on these. I am keen to see the momentum for implementing reform maintained, and so it is my intention to prepare an implementation plan for consideration by Government over the coming weeks.
“I know that the Taskforce has already undertaken much of the detailed analysis work around this and their report will be invaluable in this regard. Following this, the report and implementation plan will be published and the process of implementing the reform policy ultimately agreed by Government will commence.”
Both Ministers expressed their thanks to the Taskforce, led by Chair, Mr Jim Breslin, for considering such a wide range of areas within their Terms of Reference and placing particular importance on the targeted stakeholder submissions which were considered at length by the Taskforce.
The Taskforce met on 9 occasions over the previous 8 months and were supported in their efforts by Pillar Groups that provided subject matter and technical expertise to the Taskforce throughout the process. View all of the submissions received by the Taskforce as part of the consultation process along with wider ranging material.
ENDS
Further Information
The Government approved the establishment of a Local Democracy Taskforce on 4 June 2025. The establishment of the Taskforce was a key commitment in the Programme for Government. The Terms of Reference for the Taskforce, agreed by Government, set out an ambitious and detailed work programme, which were designed to finalise a programme for the reform and strengthening of local government in Ireland..
In carrying out its work, the Taskforce was asked to have regard to the substantial work which has already been undertaken to examine the powers, functions and responsibilities of Local Government in the following reports:
- Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, October 2023
- Seanad Public Consultation Committee Report on the Future of Local Democracy, October 2024
- Building Stronger Local Government Report by Association of Irish Local Government, November 2024
Taskforce Membership
The Members of the Local Democracy Taskforce are:
- Mr Jim Breslin, Taskforce Chairperson
- Cllr. Kieran O’Hanlon, (Limerick City and County Council) (President AILG)
- Cllr. Jimmy McClearn, (Galway County Council) (Vice President AILG)
- Cllr. Anne Colgan, (AILG) (Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council)
- Cllr Damien Ryan (LAMA Chairperson) (Mayo County Council)
- Cllr Brian Lawlor (LAMA General Secretary) (South Dublin County Council)
- Ms Niamh Larkin / Mr. Daragh McMahon, Local Government Audit Service
- Ms Fiona Quinn, Assistant Secretary, Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
- Mr Michael McCarthy, National Oversight and Audit Commission Chairperson (NOAC)
- Mr. Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive, Longford County Council, (County and City Management Association)
- Ms AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive, Fingal County Council, (County and City Management Association)
- Ms. Pauline Mulligan, Chief Executive, LGMA
- Dr Bríd Quinn, Ireland’s representative on the Council of Europe’s CLRAE Group of Independent Experts and ex-University of Limerick Department of Politics & Public Administration
- Dr Philip Byrne, ex-Institute of Public Administration, Chair of Cork County Council and Wicklow County Council Audit Committees
Taskforce Programme of Work
The Taskforce’s work was organised into four key pillars of Structure, Finance, Functions and Governance/ Accountability, with Councillors’ powers being considered under each pillar.
The Taskforce was asked to consider the principle of subsidiarity and examine the possibility of devolving more decision-making powers to Councillors. The Taskforce was also asked examine how to strengthen the framework and powers of Municipal Districts and Area Committees.
In respect of funding, the Taskforce considered granting councillors greater input and control over the development and implementation of the local authority budget and mechanisms to enhance fiscal autonomy.
In relation to governance and accountability, the Taskforce examined the rebalancing of power between elected councillors and the executive, to ensure that elected officials have a right to be consulted on a greater range of decisions. It also considered mechanisms to increase the accountability of the Chief Executive and Directors of Services to councillors for executive decisions.
A copy of the agreed Terms of Reference for the Taskforce are available on the Taskforce webpage.
Further information on the background to the Taskforce, the substantial existing body of work informing the Terms of Reference is available on the Taskforce webpage.
Consultation Process
The Taskforce carried out a wide stakeholder engagement including with key organisations and bodies, employer and employee representative, community and voluntary groups, and experts.
The purpose of the consultation process was to seek the views of key stakeholders and to gather diverse perspectives and information to inform the work of the Taskforce and any recommendations emerging, ensuring that policies are well-informed, effective, and reflect the needs of those they will impact.
The consultation process was open from Tuesday 8th July until Friday 22nd August 2025.
Details of the consultation process, list of consultees, copies of all submissions received and high level analysis which was presented to the Taskforce are available on the Taskforce website.