The 2025 Programme for Government identified the reform and strengthening of local government as a key area for action. The Local Democracy Taskforce was established in June 2025, to identify how local government could be made both more effective, and more democratic, ensuring that the public appreciate the value that local government provides to them, and how they can shape its priorities.
The membership of the Taskforce comprised of Local Authority elected member representative bodies, Local Authority executive representatives, National Oversight and Audit Commission, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Independent and other experts.
The Taskforce Final Report (March 2026) - set out under the themes of Structures, Funding, Functions, and Governance and Accountability - recommended further strengthening of local authority governance, and expanding the range of discretion available to local authorities to align services with local needs and priorities.
Building on this Final Report, the Taskforce has published an Implementation Plan, detailing how the recommendations of the Final Report will be realised.
Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Helen Ogbu said, “On behalf of my colleagues in Galway City Council, I welcome the publication of this implementation plan. There are a number of actions that will have a real impact on how we can deliver services for our communities. For example, establishing formal mechanisms to ensure Councillors can access timely and relevant information from government departments and state bodies and agencies, and ensuring that Councillors are directly involved in decisions within the local authority about identifying local policy priorities for funding from central government. This devolution of further decision making supports our role in delivering services for the communities we live in and represent”.
Leonard Cleary, Chief Executive, Galway City Council said, “This implementation plan proposes greater cooperation with national government, to support subsidiarity and service delivery at the local level, which is most welcome. In particular, I welcome the recognition that local government needs to be more financially autonomous, with greater capacity to raise and optimise its own resources. This echoes Galway City Council’s submission to the Programme for Government to pilot a tourist levy to generate income for service delivery, and for greater allocation of Local Property Tax raised in Galway City, to be reinvested back in the area that generated that funding. I welcome engagement with national government, and colleagues in the sector, to implement this plan, and to ensure appropriate investment, and greater service delivery, for the people of Galway City”.
The Local Democracy Taskforce Report and Implementation Plan was launched on 22 July at Custom House, by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD, and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning John Cummins TD. The Taskforce Report was originally published in March 2026.
Both documents are available at www.Gov.ie