asked the Minister for Local Government if he is considering a proposed merger of the three local authorities of Dublin County, Dublin City and Dún Laoghaire; and, if so, why this has been considered necessary or desirable.
37.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Merger of Dublin Local Authorities.
36.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is yet in a position to state his plans for the reconstitution of democratically elected representation for the ratepayers of Dublin to the Dublin City Council; or, if he does not propose to reconstitute the council, if he has plans to replace it and the other councils in the greater Dublin region with a local authority for the greater Dublin area.
38.
asked the Minister for Local Government if the Government have decided to introduce any legislative proposals designed to alter the present position of Dublin Corporation, Dún Laoghaire Corporation and Dublin County Council so as to amalgamate them; and, if so, what decision has been arrived at.
39.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is considering the desirability of merging Dublin Corporation and County Council authorities into one joint authority.
40.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make a statement on the reported decision by him to amalgamate Dublin Corporation, Dublin County Council and Dún Laoghaire Borough Corporation into a greater Dublin authority.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 together. As I stated in reply to a question by Deputy Moore on 27th March last, a review of the structure of local government is being undertaken in my Department. The review will take some further time to complete and, accordingly, the stage has not yet been reached when decisions could be taken. It is my intention, on completion of the review, and when the matter has been considered by the Government, to publish a White Paper setting out the Government's views and proposals in the matter. The question of reconstituting the Dublin City Council was dealt with fully in my reply to a question by Deputy Briscoe on 29th April last. I might add that the review of the structure of local government was commenced before the removal from office of the Dublin City Council became necessary.
Would the Minister undertake to consult Dún Laoghaire Corporation and the Dublin County Council as to their attitude before reaching the conclusions and publishing them in a White Paper?
There is not any decision taken on that matter at all.
The Minister said that when the matter is considered, a White Paper will be published. Before the decisions are taken or whenever they are taken, will the Minister consult Dún Laoghaire Corporation and Dublin County Council?
If there is any question of such decisions being taken——
Could we have any indication from the Minister as to whether he would, as a minimum courtesy, at least consult or have his senior officers consult with the officers of the three local authorities concerned prior to the publication of the White Paper and, if necessary, append their views to the White Paper in view of such a major development as that envisaged by the Government?
If any such decision is envisaged the views of the people concerned will be taken into consideration. There is no reason to believe that any such decision is likely to be made.
Why, then, publish a White Paper?
I intend to carry out a review of the whole structure of local government.
The Minister does not like to get any evidence which differs from his own thinking because it only confuses him.
Is that a question?
It is a statement.