Green Candidate Wants Tralee To Get Its Own Town Council Back

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Green Party candidate Cleo Murphy (centre) with Tralee canvassers in Caherslee recently.

THE Green Party candidate for Kerry wants to see Tralee get back its own town council to focus on the specific needs of the county capital.

The Green Party’s manifesto is proposing to introduce district councils, similar to the abolished town councils, but with greater responsibility for the rural hinterland.

“We believe in having people make their own decisions around local government, as far as practicable,” says Green Party candidate for Kerry Cleo Murphy. “Rural Ireland needs to take the reins from centralised Dublin government.

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“Local authorities should have the power and budget to manage their own sustainable transport, social housing, renewable energy, waste management and health promotion.”

“Tralee needs to have its own council focused on the specific needs of the town and surroundings. It has potential to attract new employers but only if they see a good living space for their workers – an attractive town centre, adequate accommodation, and good recreational facilities. Current residents also deserve these facilities and a district council would help to put them place.”

A Localism Bill forms part of the Green Party’s Rural Manifesto, which was published in addition to its general manifesto.

“We have specific needs in rural Ireland which are often overlooked by central government. The Green Party understands that and wants to give more power at local level, says Ms. Murphy, a former Tralee correspondent for the, now defunct, The Kingdom newspaper.