EDITORIAL: What do local councillors do anyway?

With just one day to go before the 2024 Local Elections, there will be some who don’t know how or if they will vote.

Even sitting councillors will tell you that their power and influence has been chipped away in recent years.

So, why should you vote and does a Local Election even matter?

The answer is yes!

Your councillors will not be able to decide who gets a house or the best roads.

They will not be able to decide which areas will get broadband first or who will get their water pipes fixed.

But, what they can do is represent you.

When you have public service issues, they can report them to the people responsible for resolving them.

They can nominate priority roads at TII meetings and lobby TDs for support.

They can make the county council aware of issues in specific areas and advocate for extra spending when funds and grants become available.

And, they are someone you can go to when you need advice on the various systems within the local authority.

The role of a councillor is important for bridging the gap between local and central government, between people and bureaucracy.

Many of the candidates in this week’s race are already doing many of these things, either as councillors or community volunteers and activists.

So, make sure you know what they stand for and if they align with your concerns.

Don’t be afraid to ask a candidate what they are already doing or have done in the past.

Read council reports by the media and check out the meeting sections of the council website.

You have everything you need to decide at your fingertips.

Your participation is essential in ensuring that everyone in Tipperary is fairly represented.

Your vote means the issues that you care about most have a chance of being considered by decision-makers.

Don’t let Friday’s polling day go by without having your say.