Curran steps down from government association position

Curran steps down from government association position

19 June 2019

DOWNPATRICK councillor Dermot Curran is stepping down from his role as president of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association this Friday.

The group is the representative body for the province’s 11 councils and Cllr Curran will leave his position at the group’s annual conference which is taking place at Newcastle’s Burrendale Hotel.

The Ardglass man is Northern Ireland’s longest serving district councillor, having been elected to the former Down Council in 1973, following the reorganisation of local government.

He has served as NILGA president twice describing the accolade as both a “privilege and a challenge”.

While stepping down as the organisation’s president, Cllr Curran will remain a key member of the NILGA Executive.

Cllr Curran — who was last month re-elected to Newry, Mourne and Down Council — has been a councillor for 46 years and while already Northern Ireland’s longest serving politician, some of his council colleagues believe that he is the longest serving in the British Isles.

Dedicated to public service, Cllr Curran said he has “thoroughly enjoyed” his second term at NILGA’s helm and looks forward to continuing his work with the organisation.

He also believes that local councils will continue to play increasingly important roles in their respective areas and that an opportunity exists to unlock the potential of local government as the hub of public services.

Cllr Curran said that over recent years councils had changed dramatically, as had the political, financial and legal environment in which councillors operate. 

He said while local authorities had more responsibilities and power than before, they were also increasingly stretched in terms of finances and resources, an issue which has been compounded since the suspension of the Assembly.

“The 11 councils are a key element of investment and public service delivery, but they control just 4% of the public purse. Devolution within Northern Ireland stopped at the Assembly, now, more than ever, this needs to be completely re-examined. It’s time we put our communities first,” said Cllr Curran.

He added: “NILGA works on behalf of all councils and I believe that in order to keep Northern Ireland moving forward, greater devolution of responsibilities, with proper financial resourcing, must be put on the table for discussions.”