Liberty news

Councillors express worry over "democratic deficit"

By Brian Healy

Dublin Corporation’s selection of non-elected officials to the boards of the Liberties/Coombe urban renewal plan was greeted with criticism by members of the City Council’s Inner- City Committee.

Green Councillor Ciaran Cuffe expressed concern that there was a "democratic deficit" and that the boards had placed a "heavy emphasis on administration and not as much on councillors".

While the project goals contained within the plan were favourably received by the councillors, some questioned the procedure that selected non-elected officials to the chairs of the project boards. Labour Councillor Eric Byrne asked whether the appointments were "pre-ordained or do the Corporation have some procedures that dictate this?"

The IAP has a three-tier administration structure, which includes a project group and board who will have decision making powers within the project, yet councillors representing the south inner-city only have a consultative role to the board, similar to that of a community group. Cllr Byrne said that "it is vital that any democratic organisation should have direct access to the boards that affect their area".

Committee Chairman and Independent TD Tony Gregory asked "how can board members be selected without the knowledge of the elected representatives of the area?"

Mr Stubbs, replying to councillors’ fears, said that "the project boards were arranged in line with the procedures set out by the Department of the Environment".

It is not only councillors who have been critical of the IAP’s structures. John Gallagher of the South West Inner-City Network (SWICN), who helped Dublin Corporation with the setting up of the project, expressed his view that the local community groups should have a greater say in the running of the IAP. "It is partnership that we want. I believe that the Corporation can be helped by community groups being involved at a higher level."

With over 150 community groups operating in the inner city, many feel that their knowledge and expertise of the area is being neglected and that they warrant greater inclusion in the IAP structures.

Community groups such as the Rialto Network and the Canal Community Partnership were not consulted on the selection of members to the project board.