THE Solidarity party has launched their campaign for a NO vote in next week’s plebiscite on whether or not Cork should get a directly elected Mayor.

Voters will go to the polls next Friday to vote on European and local elections and a referendum on Ireland’s divorce laws.

In the city, voters will also decide whether Cork should get a directly elected mayor, with increased powers.

Solidarity candidates Cllr Fiona Ryan and Carol Brogan unveiled billboards calling on the people to vote NO on May 24.

They say the proposed salary of €130,000 for the directly elected mayor is too much and would be better spent on council services.

Ms Ryan said: “If Fine Gael were serious about democratising local government they would restore its powers and provide it with proper funding. That would mean reversing the privatisation of the bins, restoring power over water and providing enough funding to massively increase local authority house building. 

"The parties that have stripped local government of its powers are the parties supporting the Mayor gimmick. They should be told NO on May 24.”

Ms Brogan said: “The Mayor proposal will flounder on the rock of the €130k Mayor’s wage. This is more than six times the minimum wage, more than three times the average wage. The Mayor of London - a city forty times the size of Cork - is paid more but not much more.

“The wage is an insult at a time when more than 10,000 people are homeless. The big parties are hoping for a ride on the gravy train for one of their own.”