The Role of Kilrush Town Council as a Local Authority
The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has overall responsibility for Local Government in Ireland. All the major services of a Local Authority are of a national character. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is directly responsible for the formulation of national policy in relation to a large number of services and activities. He/she is also responsible for co-ordinating the activities of Local Authorities and exercises significant controls over Local Authorities toward achievement of ministerial policy aims.
Kilrush Town Council as the Local Authority for Kilrush, provides an extensive range of services, and plays an active role in the development of the town's industrial, business, social, arts, heritage and cultural affairs. It also functions as the regulatory body for certain matters at local level.
Local Authorities perform both a representational and an operational role because the Irish system of Local Government encompasses both democratic representation and public administration. The representational role is performed directly by the Elected Members of the Council. Kilrush Town Council has nine Elected Members. The operational role of Kilrush Town Council is performed by the Town Manager, the Town Clerk and his/her staff who are responsible for the management and administration of the Council.
How the Local Government system operates
Local Authorities are bodies incorporated by law and accordingly derive their powers, functions and duties from the law. The law relating to the functions of Local Authorities is found principally in Public Acts, Statutory Instruments, Provisional Orders and Bye-Laws made by the Local Authority. Local Authorities have a general power (general competence) under the Local Government Act 1991 to take action to promote the interests of the local community in such a manner as they consider appropriate if it promotes the social, economic, environmental, recreational, cultural, community or general development of its area. This power, however, is subject to certain riders in that it does not involve action, empowered by other legislation or prejudice or duplicate activity arising from the performance of its statutory function by any person in the area or consequently involve wasteful or unnecessary expenditure.
The legal character of a Local Authority comprises two elements:
- The Elected Members of the Authority (the Councillors)
- The Chief Executive of the Authority (The Manager)
Members of Kilrush Town Council are elected in accordance with the system of proportional representation for a period of five years. The Méara Bhaile is elected from the membership of the Council, at the annual meeting of the Council which is held in June of each year.
The wide range of functions performed by the Elected Members are called "Reserved Functions" and these lay down the framework of policy under which the Town Manager operates. Reserved functions include decisions on major matters of policy and principle such as:
- Adoption of the Annual Budget;
- Making or varying of Development Plan;
- Adoption of scheme of letting priorities for Local Authority Housing;
- Making, amending and revoking bye-laws;
- Approval to the borrowing of money;
- Authorising disposal of land;
- Declaration of roads to be public roads;
- Extinguishment of public rights-of-way over roads;
- Actions in the interest of the local community.
The Council makes its decisions by "Resolution" at its meetings.
The functions carried out by the Town Manager are called "Executive Functions" and consist of all functions which are not reserved functions. The purpose is to provide the Elected Council with an experienced, manager for the prompt and efficient discharge of day to day business without making undue demand on the time of the Elected Members.
Executive Functions include:
- Letting of houses;
- Making of decisions on planning applications;
- Control of staff;
- Fixing of rents;
- Acceptance of tenders;
- Collection of income.
The Town Manager makes his/her decision by written "Managers Order" and in making decisions, must act in a way that is consistent with the policy which has been established by the Elected Members and have regard to their wishes.
Services provided by Kilrush Town Council under the following Programme Groups.
- House & Building
- Road, Transport & Safety
- Development Incentives & Control
- Environmental Protection
- Recreation & Amenity
- Agriculture, Education, Health & Welfare
- Miscellaneous Services
How the operations of the Local Authority are regulated
The operations of Local Authorities are regulated by
- EU Directives
- National Legislation/guidelines/directives
- Local Legislation i.e. Bye Laws
- Adopted Policies of the Council
Format of records held by Kilrush Town Council
Kilrush Town Council holds a wide variety of records in various formats.
These include:
- Computerised data - held on disc/tape.
- Computer print-out
- Paper records. This includes all types of forms, reports, maps, drawings etc.,
- Ledgers/registers
| Name | Address | Phone no. | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Prendeville | Cappa, Kilrush | 065-9051517 | Fianna Fáil |
| Deirdre Culligan | Moore Street, Kilrush | 086-8429548 | Non Party |
| Stephen O'Gorman | Sycamore Drive, Kilrush | 065-9052587 | Fianna Fáil |
| Colie Sweeney | Crawford Street, Kilrush | 086-3942745 | Non-Party |
| Liam O'Looney | Dooneen Park, Kilrush | 065-9051813 | Fianna Fáil |
| Marion McMahon Jones | Moore Street, Kilrush | 065-8052323 | Fine Gael |
| Jack Fennell | Henry Street, Kilrush | 065-9052746 | Non Party |
| Tom Clyne | Island View, Kilrush | 086-3128944 | Non Party |
| Christy O'Malley | Kilkee Road, Kilrush | 065-9051495 | Fianna Fáil |
Council Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month (except August) at 4.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Market Square, Kilrush, Co. Clare.
Location Of Offices And Services
- Civic Offices, Market Square, Kilrush
- Tel No. 065 9051047, Fax No. 065 9052821
Office Hours:
- 9.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. Mondays (Bank Holidays)
- 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday - Friday
Website:
- www.kilrush.ie