Adjournment Matters

Inland Fisheries

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames

I ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources why oyster fishing licences are being refused for the inner Galway Bay at Clarinbridge — the section of the western river basin fishery district — without prior consultation with fishermen or without reviewing available data on the said fishery. I wrote to the Minister on 9 December 2011. We need to issue at least 14 dredging licences to fishermen who have been refused licences to dredge the oysters. The Clarinbridge oyster is world renowned and contributes hugely to the local economy by supporting livelihood, but most importantly to our GDP, because it is almost wholly an export industry.

I spoke to Mr. Greg Forde of Inland Fisheries Ireland in Galway about this issue. He said that the non-issuance of the extra licences applied for arises as a result of the intensification of the habitat, and he referred to the obligations arising under the habitats directive. He said that in the absence of appropriate assessment required under these regulations, he was directed by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to ensure that the maximum number of licences does not exceed the number issued in 2010, or the average number of oyster licences issued in the past five years. That might seem fair, but the interesting thing is that some people were ill with back injuries and so on, and there is a greater demand this year. However, this is not as simple in practice. This direction is in direct contradiction of the science and generations of practice by local fishermen. The facts are that the oyster bed needs to be adequately dredged so it reproduces itself, otherwise it will not work. It is contrary to the fear of intensification.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has only issued 16 dredging licences this year, which is not enough to dredge the quantity of oysters required to supply customers in France, Italy, Japan and China. France is experiencing a shortage of oysters, and much of the Clarinbridge oyster product goes to Paris, but the fishermen cannot supply their orders. Oysters will then grow too big for any market, resulting in poor demand and poor prices. Therefore, the lack of dredging licences actually threatens the future of the oyster business.

The Minister of State is a businessman at heart.

Senator Marc MacSharry

He is a teacher.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames

No. He has a good business sense — I have watched him — and he knows this does not make sense. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, on the corridors, but nothing has worked yet. Therefore, I implore the Minister of State to make sure this is sorted.

Fishermen have invested a great deal of time and money in rejuvenating the fisheries since the early 1990s. They cannot recoup their expenditure if they cannot get licences to dredge. Some of them are sharing a boat and it is ridiculous. Clarinbridge Oyster Fishery is happy to engage in any fishery management plan, as it wishes to see the bed sustained for generations to come. However, it is wholly unacceptable that licences are refused at the same time as the management plan is requested. This is the really important point. There needs to be adequate planning, foresight and consultation by the Department, with all the stakeholders, including the Clarinbridge Oyster Fishery, for an holistic fishery plan to be put in place, and the fishermen are only delighted to co-operate.

I call on the Minister of State to ensure that the licences are reissued and that the management plan commences. I ask him to intervene so that this happens. The industry has experienced much difficulty since the early 1990s. It is now back on its feet and I do not wish to see it threatened by a bureaucratic decision and a lack of understanding of the situation until a proper management plan with evidence suggesting otherwise is produced.

I wrote to the Minister on 9 December and I got an acknowledgment by e-mail. We reminded him again on 16 December and again on 13 January. Fishermen are worried. They do not have licences now. I would like the Minister of State to give me the good news.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Brian Hayes)

I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who is unable to be here this evening and who has asked me to take this Adjournment debate. I thank the Senator for raising the matter.

Ireland has been the focus of considerable attention by EU authorities on ensuring compliance with our obligations under EU environmental law. In the context of the revised European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations of 2011, which transposed the directive, Ireland now has an obligation to ensure that appropriate assessments are carried out for activities in each marine SAC. Completion of these assessments is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and I understand a programme of appropriate assessments is under way, involving the Marine Institute and BIM. When completed, these will provide a comprehensive assessment and identify the objectives to be attained in the management of the many and sometimes competing activities in these areas.

While completion of this work is not the responsibility of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, it impacts on Inland Fisheries Ireland, which is charged by statute with the issuance of licences for oyster fishing, under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959. In the absence of completed appropriate assessment against predetermined conservation objectives for the activities within any SAC, Inland Fisheries Ireland must ensure that there is no intensification of any activity which could affect the integrity of the SAC. This includes dredging for oysters. A precautionary approach must underpin the environmental and conservation imperatives. To do this, IFI must limit the number of licences that can be issued for 2012 to no more than the average number of licences that have been issued for that district or area over the previous five years when dredging took place. If the number of licences issued in 2011 was restricted for the same reason, then the number issued in 2012 and beyond should not exceed that number until the appropriate assessment is completed.

In the context of Clarinbridge, the numbers of licences that have been issued in the area in recent years are as follows: 12 applied for and issued in 2006; 19 applied for and issued in 2007; 17 applied for and issued in 2008; 15 applied for and issued in 2009; 17 applied for and issued in 2010; and 17 licenses issued in 2011. Thus, the average number of licenses applied for and issued between 2006 and 2010 was 16. However, approximately 150 applications were submitted in November of 2010 for the 2011 season — there must be very good oysters down there — representing an increase of more than 900% on the average levels of application from 2006 to 2010. IFI was not in a position to issue licences to all of these applicants as this would clearly have been an exceptional intensification of the fishery and could have adversely prejudiced the ongoing issues with the protection of the SACs. Even to increase the number of licences in 2011 over and above the 2010 level would have had the potential to be viewed as a significant intensification of the fishery in the absence of compliance with the directive.

Through the restriction in the number of licenses being issued, IFI has ensured that the fishery did not intensify beyond its recent levels. To date this year, 41 applications have been received for licenses, which represents an increase of more than 250% on the average between 2006 to 2010. Clearly IFI is not in a position, for the reasons I have already identified, to issue an increased number of licences for 2012 over and above 2011 levels, and much less so to accommodate all applicants.

Licenses are issued in every area, including Clarinbridge, in line with the criteria approved by the board of IFI, which prioritises licences to "established fishermen". These are defined as fishermen who can prove that they derive a substantial proportion of their income from fishing and who have the capacity and necessary resources to undertake an oyster fishery. This has informed the system put in place to enable IFI to manage the issuing of oyster licences nationally. The system identifies a fair and transparent procedure on how to prioritise applications in the event that more are received than the number of licences available. Preference is given to longstanding fishermen with an established track record within the fishery.

Once the appropriate assessment of all the activities within the SAC, including a management plan for each of the relevant activities is complete, conservation objectives flowing from the assessment will then dictate the level of oyster fishing permitted within the SAC.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames

I thank the Minister of State. I was looking for licences for an extra 14 established fishermen. Does the Minister of State want the oyster industry to die? Will he submit a request to the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, to meet a deputation on the issue?

Deputy Brian Hayes

In the first instance, the Senator should make that request and I will advise the Minister that she has done so. It will be a matter for him to agree to it. I thank the Senator for raising the matter.

School Staffing

Senator Darragh O’Brien

I will never again give away my place in the queue.

Deputy Brian Hayes

Another Minister of State is taking this matter.

Acting Chairman (Senator Michael Mullins)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon.

Senator Darragh O’Brien

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take this Adjournment matter which I have tabled on behalf of the pupils, parents and teachers of the Old Borough national school, Swords, County Dublin, a Church of Ireland school covering the parish of Swords, Clonmethan, Kilsallaghan and Donabate.

The cuts proposed by the Government relating to smaller schools are not only a rural issue. In many instances they affect minority faith schools such as the Church of Ireland school mentioned. I specifically highlight the fact that the change proposed by the Government to allocate 0.2 of a full-time equivalent learning support teacher for each mainstream teaching post will result in this instance in a reduction of a full-time learning support position to a part-time hours post. This is on the basis of the school being a four-teacher school with a full-time learning support teacher. This post will now be curtailed.

The Old Borough national school has 104 pupils, 25 of whom avail of learning support. The knock-on effect of not having access to full-time learning support for other pupils is obvious, as the Minister of State knows from his role. I am interested to know what the proposed savings will be in this instance and many others. I put it to the Minister of State that they will be minimal and that the future cost of not allowing children who require this service to avail of it will be much greater.

I simply ask that the Government re-examine this issue. Perhaps this was not the intention because I cannot believe it would be the intention of any Government to specifically target minority faith and rural schools. Will the Government consider what the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, announced with regard to being committed to a review of the measures taken in DEIS schools?

This is a very blunt instrument. On another occasion I will refer to cuts affecting other schools in my area and others in Dublin. The overall point is that this measure is unfair and targeted at smaller schools. It is cynically targeted at them on the basis that the Government does not believe it will result in mass protests. However, on Sunday evening the people of Dunmanway showed it was a major issue. It is not only a rural issue; it is an issue in north Dublin, specifically at the Old Borough national school in Swords. I am glad to say the Church of Ireland community in the area has rejuvenated in the past few decades and is growing. Any true republic would protect minority faiths schools and ensure they thrived. I do not see how in this instance a smaller Church of Ireland school losing a full-time learning support post would serve any of us well. With all sincerity, therefore, I ask the Minister of State to examine this specific case and reverse the cuts proposed. I will be interested to hear his response.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Ciarán Cannon)

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, and thank the Senator for raising it.

No decisions have yet been taken on learning support allocations in individual schools or where full-time posts will be based in individual schools for the coming year. The allocation of learning support teaching posts under the general allocation model, GAM, is regulated under the Department's Circular 02/05 which provides that a full-time post may be sanctioned in a school at a figure of 22 hours, although a full-time post is equivalent to 25 hours, with the excess capacity within the full post being offset against future allocations to the school for resource teaching support.

Schools, including the school referred to by the Senator, have not yet been advised of their revised GAM allocations for September 2012. They will be advised of their new GAM allocations for the 2012-13 school year in the coming weeks. The position is that there are no plans to cut the overall number of learning support or resource teachers which will be provided for schools under the GAM.

The GAM was introduced in 2005 based on school enrolments in 2003-04. As allocations have not been adjusted since, the current allocations do not properly reflect enrolments in schools. GAM allocations for primary schools will, therefore, be updated from September 2012, through a redistribution of the existing GAM learning support resources, based on the number of classroom teaching posts in each school in the previous school year. Classroom teacher posts are based on the previous school year's enrolment figures.

The new model will provide for a more equitable distribution of the existing GAM resources for schools based on updated enrolments. It will also ensure GAM allocations can take into account the overall demographic growth in pupil numbers in the primary school sector, while ensuring the Government does not exceed its employment control framework obligations.

The revised allocation procedures will allow GAM allocations to be updated annually based on the number of classroom teaching posts in each school in the previous school year. Teaching posts previously designated for English language support will now be combined with GAM allocations to create a single simplified allocation process to cover both GAM and language support through general allocation.

While the overall level of learning support resources being provided under the GAM will not change, the revised allocations will take account of updated enrolments and also revised criteria which must take into account that there are now more pupils in the overall school system than when the GAM was introduced in 2005. Therefore, it is inevitable some schools will lose posts or hours and that other schools will gain. The revised allocation process for GAM and language support set out in the recent budget and teacher allocation announcements provide for an allocation of five hours per week, 0.2 of a post, to each mixed or all-boys' school for every mainstream classroom teaching post.

The Department will shortly issue a new circular to schools which will fully outline the new allocation procedures and criteria for GAM allocations in the coming school year. The circular will set out the position on the manner in which full-time positions may be allocated or maintained in schools and will also set out the manner in which post-sharing or clustering arrangements might be entered into by schools. Therefore, there may be the potential for the school referred to by the Senator to act as a base school for a full-time learning support post, while sharing the excess hours with another local school. The position can be considered once the school has been advised of its revised GAM allocation and the Department's circular has been issued, setting out fully the criteria and allocation arrangements which will apply.

I again thank the Senator for raising the matter.

Senator Darragh O’Brien

I thank the Minister of State for his response which indicates the school must await the circular which will state the current teaching post will no longer be a full-time post. The Minister of State has read the response of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, indicating a figure of 0.2 per each full-time mainstream teaching post. This means the current full-time teaching post will not continue. I will raise this matter again, as I am not happy with the response given. I appreciate the Minister of State taking the time to give it, but he has suggested an amalgamation of English language and learning support posts will take place. Does he have any idea when the circular will be circulated to schools? Will it happen prior to the end of January?

Deputy Ciarán Cannon

It is my understanding it will be circulated prior to the end of January.

Coastal Erosion

Senator Marc MacSharry

I welcome back the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and thank him for taking the time to take this Adjournment matter. He is aware of the part of the country I speak about, Strandhill in County Sligo. His Department is aware of the beach there where seasonal problems arise with shifting sands caused by rip currents. In the past six months a serious problem has arisen with coastal erosion as a result of which, as put to me today by one engineer, rock armour, sand dunes and possibly millions of tonnes of sand have been removed. An entire area of scenic walk effectively has been washed away.

The amenity in Strandhill is not just for the people of Sligo. I am sure the Minister and many Members of this House have benefited from the use of what is a national tourist amenity. It is one of the major centres for surfing in Ireland facing the Atlantic but the coastal erosion disaster unfolding is a threat not just to the natural amenity of the beach and the sand dunes — what we call locally Shelly Valley and other areas — but also to Strandhill Golf Club, which is located close to it, the seafront parking area and the general amenity of the community of Strandhill.

I am sure the Minister will say in his response that funds of some €47,000 and another amount of approximately €11,000 were provided for some works to be carried out but I am informed by local engineers that some of those works failed. The reality is that we have high tides every fortnight or so and each time that occurs the problem worsens.

I would not trouble the national Parliament with insignificant issues, particularly in these difficult times from a resources perspective, but with the Minister's budget for these issues being cut it is essential that I point out that this is not a local issue requiring some money to be thrown at it; it is an unfolding national disaster in the context of a piece of Ireland's coastline that is being damaged irreparably. The longer we leave it the more money it will cost and while I am conscious that the Minister's Department, like all Departments, are somewhat strapped for cash, a report is being carried out by RPS Consulting Engineers. It has the best coastal process people in the business and while I appreciate that we might like to see the result of that report, which is anticipated in early February, I am asking the Minister in advance of that report to make available emergency funds to deal with flooding when it occurs. I have no doubt that such contingency budgets would be available or can be found but, unfortunately, we are not talking about €47,000 or €11,000 to deal with this problem. In my view and, I am sure, that of Mr. Jim Casey, an engineer in the Department, or his private secretary, who kindly liaised with me on this issue and whom I believe surfs in Strandhill, many hundreds of thousands of euro may be required.

Deputy Brian Hayes

I hope not on a Wednesday.

Senator Marc MacSharry

Not on a Wednesday but she is welcome any other day, as is the Minister. It is a serious issue which may take €500,000 or €600,000 to rectify but if we do not meet it head on and deal with it I fear larger funds could be required. It is not a remote section of coastline but one that is an important tourist amenity, specifically to Strandhill Golf Club and the village of Strandhill.

Notwithstanding the challenges and the imminent report I confidently submit that the report will indicate that emergency funds are required and I fear that despite the generosity of the Department pre-Christmas with the €47,000 and the €11,000 we are looking at a figure of hundreds of thousands of euro. I do not wish to pre-empt what the report will state but I can tell the Minister of State it will not be recommending giving money back to the Department. I ask him to indicate his willingness to do what he can to secure that funding and make it available to address what is a natural disaster of coastal erosion at Strandhill, County Sligo.

Deputy Brian Hayes

The first Adjournment issue was on the question of oysters. I may not have much knowledge of bloated oysters but I have a significant knowledge of the coastline to which the Senator refers. It is a part of the country I know well, not least because I have played golf in Strandhill many times. It is the most beautiful part of the country underneath Queen Maeve's grave. That stretch of water and beach is a national treasure that we all have a responsibility to look after and protect. I am well aware of its significance to the region and to Sligo in particular. I give the Senator an honest commitment that the next time I am in Sligo I will be more than happy to meet people there about this issue to see what progress we can make.

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. He has been vociferous about this matter of late, and rightly so, because of the significance of the coastline. In the first instance it is a matter for the local authorities to identify the priority areas of their respective coastlines considered to be under significant threat from erosion and to put forward proposals to central Government for funding of the appropriate erosion management measures.

The Office of Public Works, OPW, has a scheme in place entitled the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme or the minor scheme, as we call it, which as the Senator is aware was introduced in 2009. Under this scheme applications are considered for measures costing not more than €500,000 in each instance. Studies are also funded under this scheme. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for eligible projects. The assessment includes technical, economic, social and environmental criteria. Those criteria must be satisfied before any proposal can be further considered for funding as scarce resources must be carefully prioritised.

I am glad to say that in this area of capital funding we have secured the same budget in 2012 as that which we had for 2011, namely, €45 million on flood defences, and the minor flood relief scheme comes under that. It is one of the areas on which an absolute commitment has been made by Government. In the next four to five years we hope to spend €0.25 billion in this area. We are committed to rolling out schemes throughout the country with maximum effect based on the criteria.

In some cases a "do nothing" or "no activation" intervention approach might be the most appropriate management response, and international studies have borne that out. The European Commission Eurosion study, Living with Coastal Erosion in Europe, which was completed in 2004, highlighted some important findings including the fact that some previous interventions, while solving erosion problems locally, have exacerbated coastal erosion at other locations or generated other environmental problems. That study also highlights the concept of coastal squeeze which occurs in low-lying and inter-tidal areas that would otherwise naturally adjust to change in sea levels, storms and tides but cannot do so due to the construction of sea walls and other inflexible coastal barriers. The outcome can often be a gradual loss of amenity beach and habitat.

Because interventions within a coastal area may cause problems further along the coast, any proposed intervention measures are best developed in conjunction with a formal coastal erosion study which carefully investigates the problem and explores the full range of management options. The OPW is prepared to fund such studies where warranted in advance of any proposed erosion schemes we will put in place.

In the particular case of Strandhill, the OPW has already provided significant funding to Sligo County Council for coastal works and a study under the coastal protection scheme. In 2010, €423,000 was provided for protection works, including a rock revetment. In 2011, a further €47,700 was approved for works to the main access to the dunes and southern beach, and €11,500 was approved for a coastal study. In times of severe economic constraint that is a significant amount of funding which I am pleased to say the Department has provided.

Regarding the study being carried out at Strandhill, it is expected that the final report will be completed by the consultants by the end of February or early March of this year. The report will also take account of the damage caused as a result of recent storms in the area. It will then be open to Sligo County Council, on foot of it receiving the report we funded, to submit a further application to the OPW for further funding under the scheme. Any application received will be assessed in accordance with the relevant criteria and having regard to the overall availability of finance.

The minor works scheme is very effective because local authorities can apply for funds from our Department 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In other words, when an application comes in, we test it against criteria and consider the cost-benefit analysis to see if the funding proposal by the local authority will make a difference with regard to flooding or erosion. We quickly produce a report. When we complete this study by the end of February or early March, it is open to Sligo County Council to make an application under the minor works scheme. I give the Senator a commitment to get a result from that as soon as possible.

I assure the Senator that I am fully aware of the coastal erosion issues in Strandhill, County Sligo, but reiterate that it is a natural and ongoing process. In general, there is only a problem when this might threaten infrastructure or properties. It is advisable for local authorities to take into consideration the potential hazards and risk associated with coastal erosion when approving planning applications for new developments in areas vulnerable to erosion. Intervention to manage coastal erosion is costly, both in terms of initial capital and ongoing maintenance costs by the Office of Public Works, which must be borne in mind. I know the site in Sligo well and when the report comes out, I will have no difficulty in examining what progress, if any, can be made with an application that may come from Sligo County Council.

Senator Marc MacSharry

I thank the Minister of State for his response and look forward to hearing the result of that report. In anticipation of early application from Sligo County Council for emergency funding, I am glad to hear the Minister of State's Department is flush to the tune of €250 million——

Deputy Brian Hayes

Over four years.

Senator Marc MacSharry

——for expenditure of this nature under the works scheme. I hope that in the time between now and the publication of the report, which is a matter of weeks, an early decision can be taken on an application for funding so we can get on with putting in place the important protection for what effectively is part of our national tourism infrastructure. The golf club is affected, as is part of a tourist walkway which has already been washed away. I thank the Minister of State and look forward to returning in a few weeks and getting a funding result.

Local Government Reform

Acting Chairman (Senator Michael Mullins)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to the Chamber and congratulate her on her recent elevation. I understand she started her career in the Seanad and wish her well.

Senator Paul Bradford

I wish to share time with Senator Cáit Keane, who along with me and the Minister served at local authority level.

Acting Chairman (Senator Michael Mullins)

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Senator Paul Bradford

We are all keenly aware of the profound importance of the positive impact arising from local government in our society. It is interesting to speak about local government as in Ireland it stretches back further than the State. The Irish Free State inherited a system of local government, and that system and structure have not changed dramatically in recent decades. As a result of the constitutional provision regarding local government elections, the next set will be in 2014. All currently elected councillors and people who wish to involve themselves in the next set of elections are already beginning to ask what is the future of local government and the structures that will exist.

I do not want to be particularly prescriptive in my comments but reform is necessary and can be helpful. Local government plays an important role not only on the political side of the nation's affairs but in economic generation and development at local level. We must ask what types of structure are best suited to the Ireland of the new millennium. In the Oireachtas Library there is a very interesting report going back to the 1990s which was commissioned by the then Minister responsible for the environment, former Deputy Bobby Molloy. He suggested a concept of district councils and if my recollection is correct, there was broad acceptance of that type of proposal, but like many ideas in Irish politics, the report was published and debated before being put into the Oireachtas Library, where it has remained. Perhaps the Minister of State will advise if the concept is still on the agenda.

Are there proposals to change any of the local authority systems? What is the current departmental thinking, particularly relating to town councils? Is consideration being given to the district council idea? To be fair to those who serve in local government and who wish to serve there, we should try to make these decisions quickly in order to facilitate a long and constructive lead-in to the 2014 local elections.

Senator Cáit Keane

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her again. With only two minutes I cannot say all I would like to about local government. Having spent 20 years working at local government level, I feel an onus on myself and on behalf of the people who elected me to argue that local government should be used for devolution of function. Essentially, we give power to the people at local level. If we get it right at the grassroots, what comes to the top will have a better chance of working.

Senator Bradford referred to the Barrington report and he asked a valid question regarding district councils. None of us wants a significant body of administration in every little town in Ireland but we must not throw out the baby with the bath water. We should consider what exists in Germany and France, which have smaller district councils. The area committees currently operating in councils could be redefined, with more power given to them. New area committees within the structure of the county or city.

I look forward to the report being drawn up by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, but when will it be published? As every local council is gearing up for the 2014 elections, it is important we do not leave the issue hanging over their head too long.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

I thank Senators Bradford and Keane for raising this issue, as we all have a very strong interest in the reform of local government. I know the Minister is consulting on the matter and is interested in hearing views. He is actively considering the issue.

The programme for Government mentions "a fundamental reorganisation of local governance structures to allow for devolution of much greater decision making to local people." That statement alone provides the basis for a substantial programme for reform and strengthening of local government structures and functions and, since taking office, my colleague, the Minister, has engaged in extensive review and consultation on local government matters. A progressive approach to reform is being adopted, taking early decisions, where possible, and seeking to build cumulatively towards an overall programme of restructuring and development.

In June and July last year, the Government approved proposals to merge the Limerick and Tipperary authorities and the restructuring process, on foot of those decisions, is moving ahead. I have direct experience of the Limerick process. The Tipperary reorganisation implementation group submitted a progress report last November which indicated that good progress is being made in that county and the group is on schedule to meet its target of producing an implementation plan by May of this year. I understand that a progress report from the Limerick group will be submitted very shortly, which is also dealing with the integration of the Limerick regeneration agencies in the local government system, as well as merger of the city and county Councils. The group is due to finalise its implementation plan by the end of March. Meanwhile, a local government committee is considering whether Waterford city and county councils should be unified and is due to complete a report on this question by the end of February.

Building on these early developments, the Minister will also bring proposals to Government shortly on structures generally at each level of the local government system — regional, county and sub-county, in which the Senators have a particular interest. Although time does not permit more detailed reference to these components, I will comment briefly on the sub-county dimension referred to by both Senators and make specific reference to town councils.

There are three broad options on governance arrangements within counties. One hypothetical option might be to adhere to the current 19th century model of town authorities which during the years has become isolated, ineffective and out of touch with modern realities. The submission made to the Department some months ago by the AMAI seemed to acknowledge that this was not a desirable option. At the other extreme, the McCarthy report in 2009 recommended that all town authorities be abolished and, in turn, the report of the local government efficiency review group recommended that the rating, housing, planning and roads functions of town authorities be transferred to county councils. These proposals have not met with a favourable response from most town council representatives. This suggests the need to seek another approach that will acknowledge the strengths and benefits of municipal governance and local democratic representation, while promoting operational efficiency and administrative coherence of the county. The Department is close to completing a model of municipal governance that will achieve these objectives and, in particular, give a strong decision-making role in a meaningful range of functions to elected members at a comprehensive sub-county tier. This will mean moving beyond the town hall mentality behind which some have sheltered. There is an increasing appetite for this challenge.

The second main theme of the proposals to go before the Government, in addition to structural reform, will be expansion of the role of local government. In the short to medium term there is scope for strengthening and broadening this role in three areas, in particular; first, clarifying and enhancing the role of local government in economic development and enterprise support, building on and extending current best practice; second, local authority involvement in community and local development, which will be the subject of a forthcoming report by a steering group on the alignment of local development and local government; third, devolution of specific functions from central level to local government for which the Minister has asked each of his Cabinet colleagues to identify proposals.

I am conscious that I have only touched on two aspects of local government reform, namely, structures and functions, and even then in a cursory manner. Nonetheless, I hope my contribution has clarified some of the issues raised by the Senators. Local government, of course, is only one part of a broader picture. The fundamental challenge for us all is to rebuild the economy and promote a fair and cohesive society. The vision of the Government for local government is of a system with a wider range of functions to deliver improved services to citizens in a cost effective way and have a more meaningful impact on the issues that matter to local communities and, ultimately, the lives of individuals. The Minister has consulted and intends to bring proposals to the Government shortly. He is very conscious of the value of decision-making at sub-county level.

Senator Paul Bradford

I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response and I am pleased to note that action is being contemplated. I ask the Minister of State to endeavour to ensure, where possible, that decisions will be taken and that elected public representatives will know, no later than the summer or early autumn, the ground rules, the boundaries and the systems which will be in place for the local elections to be held in 2014. This may present a challenge, but the debate about local government reform has been ongoing for far too long and it may be better to set clear targets and decide that decisions will be made, acted upon and implemented in the coming year. I ask the Minister of State to impress on the Minister the need to move from debate to making decisions and implementation in this calendar year. I again thank her for her comprehensive and engaging reply.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan

The Senator may already have had an opportunity to speak to him, but I will certainly, officially and formally, convey the points made to the Minister who is very conscious of the need for a degree of certainty as early as possible.

The Seanad adjourned at 8.25 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 19 January 2012.

Seanad Éireann debate - Wednesday, 18 Jan 2012