asked the Minister for Local Government if he will extend the date within which interested parties may submit observations to his Department on the White Paper on Local Government Reorganisation recently issued.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Government Reorganisation.
47.
Any requests from interested parties for an extension of the date in question will be considered on their merits. I should add, however, that if there is to be any prospect of having any major structural changes implemented before June, 1972, when the next local elections are due to be held, final decisions must be made as quickly as possible. I would, therefore, appeal to all concerned to make every possible effort to submit observations before the end of April, 1971.
Would the Minister agree, in view of the fact that the White Paper on Local Government reorganisation has been at drafting stage within his Department ever since October, 1969, that a period of from now until April for any submission relating to the White Paper would seem inordinately short, bearing in mind that most of the organisations which would submit their observations are representative organisations and would need a considerable amount of time to prepare their submissions? Would he not extend the date by an extra two or three months and make it somewhat final rather than treating cases on their merits which would leave an air of uncertainly surrounding it?
I shall consider that.