Prof Maura Adshead explains what we can expect from a directly elected mayor

ON MAY 24, 2019 the people of Limerick voted in favour of a directly elected mayor (DEM) with executive functions.

When offered the same choice, the people of Cork city and Waterford voted against the idea. It seems that Limerick people were ready to take a chance on change, but what does this change entail? Currently, the mayor is chosen by the Council, and holds a largely ceremonial role which lasts for one year.

The directly elected mayor will be elected by the people of Limerick city and county, with extended powers and will serve for five years. Limerick will be the first - and so far the only - county in Ireland to have a directly elected mayor with executive power.

As such, there is no blueprint to inform how this new style of mayor will work. But we do have a sense of what Limerick people want.

As part of the preparations for the DEM, the Implementation Advisory Group advising on the establishment of the post, commissioned the University of Limerick to carry out a public consultation exercise.

In total, 927 people participated in the consultation and when we asked them why they thought Limerick people voted for a directly elected mayor, the most popular answers were ‘to reform and improve democracy’ and ‘because change is needed’.

Respondents were either frustrated and unhappy with existing arrangements, or simply believed that change and innovation is a positive thing. The difference between our ‘frustrated pessimists’ and ‘optimistic innovators’, was roughly 2:1 critical versus hopeful.

Those who were critical most commonly expressed frustration with the current system, which they typically regarded as unresponsive or ineffective.

Those who were hopeful, most commonly assumed that the DEM offered an opportunity for ‘progress’ and ‘promotion’ of Limerick’s interests. The truth lies somewhere in between, but much will depend on the political skills and disposition of the new mayor.

With an annual salary just north of €150,000, the directly elected mayor will have a staff of five from the Council or four if they wish to bring in a person of their own as ‘special adviser’.

Their primary role is at the strategic or policy level, developing better coordination and strategic focus in planning, housing, transport, and the environment, as well as drafting the annual budget, which still needs to be approved by councillors.

And if they manage to marshal support and momentum at local level, they have the opportunity to bring it to the attention of national Government, using their mandate to build support for their ambitions in meetings with ministers and in the ‘Limerick Mayoral and Government Consultative Forum’ – a provision for the mayor to meet with Government to advise on matters affecting Limerick.

If you’re a glass half empty kind of person, you might think that there’s a lot of talk about plans and strategy, but little in the way of extra powers or resources.

But, if you’re looking at the glass half full, you’ll see a window of opportunity for a person with bright ideas and a clear vision for Limerick, who’s good at politics with a small ‘p’ – someone who can build consensus and coalitions to garner as much support as possible in the pursuit of positive change for Limerick.

Dr Maura Adshead is Professor of Politics, and Head of Community Engagement at the University of Limerick