Declan praised for his leadership of Tipperary County Council
On the same week that he celebrated his 30th birthday, Fine Gael councillor Declan Burgess ended his one-year term as Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council.
In spite of his youth and being the youngest every Cathoirleach of the council, he has been widely praised by his fellow councillors for the distinguished way he carried out his duties as the county’s First Citizen.
As he stepped down at the Annual Meeting of the council in his native Cashel on Friday week last, he hit out at what he saw as the failure of central government to properly fund councils.
“I must also be honest: this council - and local government more broadly - is being asked to do more with less, he said. “The rising cost of doing business is putting real pressure on delivering services.”
He called on the Government to properly fund local authorities. “If we want strong counties and thriving communities, we must empower the councils who serve them.
“Our staff are doing exceptional work. But the system is stretched and the public rightly expects more.”
Cllr Burgess said Tipperary County Council itself “must do better on the basics”.
He added: “Roads, footpaths, public lighting, the clearing of weeds, and the overall maintenance of outdoor amenities - these are the things that matter in people’s daily lives, and we need to step up.”
Cllr Burgess said he never got involved in politics to wear a chain of office.
“I did so because I wanted to make a positive impact to the communities I represent. However, serving in this role [of Cathaoirleach] has been the privilege of a lifetime,” he told his fellow councillors.
Tipperary, he said, was a place of innovation, tradition, and resilience. “It has been a genuine pleasure to witness the power of community and collaboration across our towns, villages, and rural communities, and to support so many initiatives that contribute to a brighter, more connected Tipperary.”
But Cllr Burgess said more had to be done - singling out the housing crisis. “The real challenge is clear: affordable housing. We cannot afford a two-tier approach. Every main town in County Tipperary - not just our largest centres - must have an affordable housing scheme.
“This is essential if we are to give young people, working families, and those on modest incomes a real chance to live and thrive in their own communities.”
He concluded: “As I pass on the chain of office, I do so with confidence in the future of our county and full support for my successor. Tipperary is strong, ambitious, and united - and it has been the greatest honour of my public life to serve as your Cathaoirleach.”