THE people of Limerick are on track to elect the first directly elected mayor for the city and county in 2021 it is believed.
Fine Gael Senator and former Mayor of Limerick, Maria Byrne, pressed Minister with Responsibility for Local Government, John Paul Phelan, in the Seanad on the timeline of the next steps following the passage of the plebiscite.
“Minister Phelan revealed to me that he has instructed his officials to prioritise the necessary legislation and he believes that the first elections could take place in 2021 – a year earlier than expected,” she said.
“This is fantastic news for Limerick and will see the whole region reap the benefits of having a directly elected mayor even sooner.
“I impressed on the minister the need for the legislation to ensure that the Mayor will have real powers to address areas such as transport, the environment and business.
“These are the priorities I will be focusing on in consultation with the people of Limerick city and county.
“I am very aware that the plebiscite passed by a slim majority and I am keen that everyone unites behind the decision now to ensure that the best ideas feed into the process.
“The changes coming for local government in Limerick will be a flagship example for the rest of the country to follow and it is vital we work hard to maximise every opportunity this reform will create.”
