2026-04-28

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide that the municipal district area that includes the Local Electoral Area of Drogheda Urban shall be known in the Irish language as Ceantar Bardasach Chathair Dhroichead Átha and in the English language as the Municipal District of Drogheda City, and for that purpose to amend the Local Government Act 2001; to provide that specified towns which comply with the requirements provided for by this Act may be granted city status and for those purposes to amend the Local Government Act 2001; and to provide for related matters. It gives me great pleasure to introduce to this House my first Bill, the Local Government (Cities) Bill 2026. The purpose of this Bill is to provide that the municipal district area that includes the local electoral area of Drogheda urban be known as the municipal district of Drogheda city and to provide that specified classes of towns that satisfy the requirements provided for by the Bill may be granted city status, and to provide for related matters. During the submission phases for Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and regional spatial and economic strategy, a massive number of submissions were made advocating for city status for Drogheda. Lobby groups and local citizens did what the Government asked them to do to play their part in our democracy and they articulately and eloquently stated the case for city status. None of those submissions received the due consideration it should have. The city status group met with many Ministers in many different Governments over the years and they presented the case for Drogheda's city status. They outlined various difficulties the town was incurring because different parts of it were run by Louth County Council and Meath County Council, with no overall cohesive plan for the area. We have two councils with no holistic plan for housing, infrastructure, transport, employment, and community and sporting amenities. This has proven to choke progress and stifle the growth of the largest town in the country. Every elected representative from all parties and none in Drogheda supports the city status campaign, including those from the Government parties. I ask that the Government listen to them. The local democracy task force was established by this Government last year after years of debates and concerns about what went so terribly wrong with the Local Government Act 2014 and other aspects of our weak local democracy. City status, however, is not even being considered. Only a few moments ago, the Taoiseach referred to his own disappointment with the task force's lack of focus on urban councils. The Council of Europe has consistently highlighted this State as having one of the weakest and most centralised systems of local government in Europe. We have to try to do something different. We in Sinn Féin will not be found wanting in making positive changes to empower local democracy. The Government's local government reforms in 2001 and 2014 have led to a downgrade of local government and more centralisation of powers instead of improving local government and delivering real local democracy. The Minister, Deputy Browne, recently noted that right now there are no formal criteria for awarding city status. Under the Planning and Development Act 2024 a city is defined primarily by its administrative status rather than population size. This is why I am introducing the Bill so that for the first time there will be formal criteria enshrined in law that can be used to award city status, with population size as the main factor for approval. If the Bill receives enough support in the Dáil and Seanad and becomes an Act, Drogheda will become the municipal district of Drogheda city. City status is crucial to ensure that Drogheda and other large towns receive proper investment in infrastructure, services and jobs rather than being treated merely as commuter towns. I do not claim to have a magic wand that will fix everything we have wanted for years but I believe this mechanism would pave the first step on a pathway to greater things. I stood for election on the platform of elevating city status for Drogheda and I am unapologetic in my attempts to deliver real change and local democracy for the place I call home. This is why I have spent the first 13 months as a TD working with the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers to produce this legislation. I emphasise that the same criteria contained in the Bill can be used for other large towns throughout the State to apply for city status for their respective areas. These include places such as Navan, Bray, Dundalk, Swords, Ennis, Letterkenny, Sligo, Tralee and many more. When they hit the criteria they too can apply for city status to have local government based locally, making decisions locally, to benefit all of what are now towns but are future cities. This is how we plan for the future. To enable Drogheda's unique heritage, history and location, and to realise its full potential, we need to advance this legislation. I sincerely hope that years of virtue signalling to Drogheda from various taoisigh and Ministers will transpire into support for the Bill.

Is the Bill opposed?

It is not opposed.

Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."