Fine Gael rates freeze is undemocratic

Enda Kenny would be better off worrying about Fine Gael's plans to correct the national finances than sticking his oar into local government affairs says Westport Labour councillor Keith Martin.

Cllr Martin made his comments in the wake of Fine Gael's proposal to freeze or reduce local rates by central government dictat.

Rates are set by local councillors at the annual budget meeting though Fine Gael has promised to freeze them until 2012.  

According to Cllr Martin this is nothing more than interference in local government affairs by Fine Gael.  

"What FG are proposing is a return to central government rule, this flies in the face of Fine Gael's promises to reform local government.  Local Government has already suffered huge cuts from central funding and now FG are proposing to cut even more by dictating to local councils what rates they can set. 

Westport Town Council has always been business friendly and we have always done our best to keep rate increases to a minimum and to freeze or cut them when possible.  The idea of TDs hundreds of miles away dictating to us flies in the face of local democracy.  We need more powers not less,  The people of Westport elect us to make these decisions on their behalf.  Fine Gael can't have it both ways."

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Faithfully

Cllr Keith Martin
086 0691182