Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
335. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a report on the implementation of the programme for Government commitments in relation to local government; the other initiatives that have been undertaken with regard to local government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56095/23]
View answerAn update on delivery of the commitments in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future in respect of the local government sector is set out herewith:
In relation to the Directly Elected Mayor of Limerick, the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 was published in August and is currently progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas, with a view to enactment early in 2024. Government has decided that the election for the Mayor for Limerick will be held on the same date as the Local and European Elections in 2024, which will be held in early June. In advance of the election, a public information campaign about this significant change in the way in which Limerick will be governed will be very important and my Department will be working with Limerick City and County Council to ensure that information is provided to the public in Limerick.
The 2022 Dublin Citizens’ Assembly was asked to consider the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin”. Its final report was presented to the Taoiseach in January 2023, and contains 18 recommendations. This report has been referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for consideration of its recommendations. The Committee has also been asked to provide advice on the requirement for the holding of a plebiscite to determine if Dublin should have a directly elected Mayor, and to propose draft wording for such a plebiscite if appropriate. The Committee has been asked to report by the end of 2023. The Report is also under consideration by officials in my Department with a view to bringing forward a comprehensive response to the Report for Government’s consideration in early 2024. The outcome of the Joint Oireachtas Committee process will inform Government’s final deliberations.
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, significant and unprecedented support was provided to ratepayers by local government, underwritten by Exchequer funding. The commercial rates waiver schemes provided support to businesses and financial certainty to local authorities. Commercial rates waivers, in various guises, applied from April 2020 to March 2022. In total the Exchequer underwrote commercial rates waivers amounting to €1.27bn in the period.
The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 was passed by the Oireachtas and enacted on 11 July 2019. Amendments were required to address key technical issues in the Act before commencing the remaining provisions. Commencement of the provisions of the 2019 Act is an important element in a commitment in the Programme for Government to examine ways to further streamline the commercial rates system post Covid-19. Plans to address the required amendments and commence the legislation were delayed by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In April 2023, the Government approved the drafting of Heads to address key technical issues in the Act prior to the commencement of the rest of the Act. The Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was identified as the vehicle for carrying Rates Act amendments. That Act was signed into law by the President on 13 October 2023. Certain sections of the Rates Act (and consequential amendments to the Valuation Acts 2001-2020) were commenced by Order on 6 November 2023 in order to be in place when local authorities were making their 2024 budgets. The bulk of the remainder of the sections are to be commenced from 1 January 2024 to allow local authorities to levy and collect rates under the new legal framework in 2024.
Until 2022, 80% of the estimated LPT liability in each local authority area for a given year was retained in that area to fund public services, notwithstanding any local variation decisions. The remaining 20% of LPT was re-distributed to provide equalisation funding to those local authorities that have lower property tax bases. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the LPT allocation mechanism for 2023 is changed to allow for 100% of the estimated yield to be retained locally within the local authority area where it is collected. Furthermore, a review of the LPT baselines for each local authority (which is the minimum level of funding available to each local authority, regardless of its LPT yield) took place in 2023 and, as a result of this review, the overall baseline level of funding for the sector will increase by €75.4m in 2024.
To support the operation of municipal districts in strengthening local democracy, communities, villages and towns in a sustainable manner, my Department undertook a process of consultation with the local government sector on how this could best be achieved. The results of these findings, together with the Institute of Public Administration’s review of municipal districts were used to inform Best Practice Recommendations for Local Authorities on the operation of Municipal Districts, which was issued to the Chief Executives of the 31 local authorities in November 2022.
My Department worked with the Department of Community and Rural Development on the provision of guidance to local authorities on the development of the economic elements of Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs). These guidelines were launched in November 2021. Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, local authorities themselves are charged with responsibility for promoting and supporting economic development of their local areas.
My Department has engaged the Institute of Public Administration to carry out a review of local authority Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs). The review is being carried out in the context of the commitment to ‘mandate the establishment of climate action SPCs in each local authority.‘ The review will examine how the SPC system is operating on the ground in terms of its objectives and to propose any changes for consideration to enhance its operation, role and impact. A Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) has been established to oversee, advise on and steer this review of SPCs, further information about which may be found on my Department’s website. It is expected that the review will be completed in Q1 2024.
The pay related recommendations of the “Independent Review of the Role and Remuneration of Elected Members”, overseen by Sara Moorhead SC, have been implemented and a significant reform of the remuneration package available to councillors introduced with effect from 1 July 2021. In addition, a new gratuity scheme will be introduced from June 2024 which will link the gratuity to the new annual remuneration, allow retiring councillors to claim a maximum gratuity of €86,172 after 20 years’ reckonable service and having reached 50 years of age. A new security allowance of up to €2,500 or 50% of cost was been introduced this year to help councillors offset certain costs incurred in enhancing their personal security arrangements.
Acting on recommendations arising from the Moorhead Review, a Training and Professional Development stakeholder working group, chaired by the Department and including representatives of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) and the County and City Management Association (CCMA), was established in 2021 to review training delivered to elected members. It is intended that this review will identify gaps in training provision and explore how a structured programme of training can be developed to ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach, particularly for newly elected members. It is also intended that the working group’s review will identify training that could be delivered by local authorities, including the participation of elected members in local authority staff training and workshops on topical matters, e.g. the county development plan process. The group is currently examining the delivery of both induction and refresher induction, as well as localised customised training.
The Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Members of Local Authorities) Act 2022 was enacted in December 2022. Under this legislation, councillors are now subject to many of the same protections as afforded to employees under the Maternity Protection Act 1994 (as amended). This legislation also allows the option for a councillor to appoint an individual as a temporary substitute in their place if absent on maternity leave or due to illness.
In parallel to this legislation, as part of a wider package of maternity-related supports for local authority elected members, Regulations signed in August provide for an allowance for councillors who are availing of maternity leave or who have recently given birth and have chosen not to avail of maternity leave to engage additional administrative support to assist them in their role. The allowance, payable on a vouched basis, is intended to cover expenses incurred by female councillors in engaging an individual to maintain basic office duties and provide other secretarial or administrative duties, for a period of up to 42 consecutive weeks.
In relation to commitments for more family friendly councils, my Department has funded a number of resources aimed at providing guidance to local authorities in the area of flexible work practices, including the National Women’s Council of Toolkit for Local Authorities on Supporting Family-Friendly Local Government.
In recognition of the potential for the use of technology to strengthen local democracy, particularly to increase accessibility and transparency of local government in action, the Minister of State for Local Government and Planning has approved funding for a pilot programme aimed at local authorities where the infrastructure in the main council chamber/s is inadequate for hybrid meetings. This initiative will provide part funding of €160,674 to four local authorities this year to allow them to proceed with the installation of equipment to facilitate hybrid meetings.
In relation to the commitment to empower local authorities to encourage improved gender and ethnic mix in local elections, my Department has:
• In 2021, provided €62,000 in funding to 15 local authorities, and one inter-county group supported by the AILG and See Her Elected, for the establishment of women's councillor caucuses. In 2022, the caucus funding scheme, was amalgamated with the previously separate Call for Funding to local authorities, in order to streamline the process for applicants.
• Since 2019, issued an annual Call for Funding to local authorities for projects, which aim to build general awareness of local government and encourage participation in local decision-making structures, particularly among women, minority and diverse communities, with funding totalling €205,568 awarded to twenty-seven local authorities and one regional caucus in 2023.
My Department also operates a funding scheme to incentivise political parties to increase the number of women candidates in local elections. This scheme is open to all registered political parties and in the interests of inclusivity, to official representative groups of independents. In December 2023, €230,372 was allocated across nine political parties and one independent group, for a variety of initiatives, including the appointment of equality and diversity officers within parties, the running of a number of women’s conferences, as well as training and capacity building for potential candidates.
