asked the Minister for the Environment when he expects to make a decision on the establishment of suitable municipal authorities to administer the affairs of the Clondalkin, Blanchardstown and Tallaght areas of Dublin.
4.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Government Reform.
3.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he has received a written submission from the community councils of Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown requesting the setting up of a local borough council; and when a decision will be made in this matter.
5.
asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals he has for reforming the structure of local government in the greater Dublin area.
6.
asked the Minister for the Environment whether, in view of the greatly increased population in the County Dublin area, he will consider a substantial increase in the number of members of Dublin County Council.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 6 together.
I have under consideration the question of the future structure of local government generally including that of the Dublin area. This examination is at the initial stages, so I cannot yet give an indication of what the outcome will be in relation to a particular area. It can be taken that the level of representation will be among the matters to be examined. I have received the submission referred to by Deputy Lawlor, a reply to which was issued from my Department on the 14th October, 1977.
Is the Minister aware of the impossible task that now confronts 25 members of Dublin County Council where three cities as big or bigger than Cork are being built while there are no extra provisions? There is no local government because it is impossible for them, as the Minister knows, to keep in contact with the rapidity of the development in what was and is the county council area in Dublin.
I am fully aware of how impossible is the task facing Dublin County councillors by comparison with the task that faces some of the councillors in rural Ireland who have a smaller number of constituents.
Would it be possible to give them some interim assistance before the Minister brings in overall legislation to deal with this? It is not local government any more. It could not be because of the amount of development that is taking place.
I do not know what would be involved with regard to interim assistance at this stage.
Can the Minister give an undertaking that the rearrangement will be concluded in time for the next local elections in view of the urgency put forward by all Deputies in regard to this matter?
If it is worth doing at all it is worth doing before the next local elections.
Is the Minister giving an undertaking about this?
It would be my intention.
With Dublin, particularly the western section, growing as it is there is an alarming situation with the infrastructure and the social requirements to comply with housing. Dublin Corporation are now building houses in the County——
The Deputy will ask a question.
Could I ask the Minister if his concern for the county local authority which is very positive would be extended to the city as well where the ratio of representation is even worse?
As I have said, the whole local government structure is under examination and this would become part of that examination like Dublin County Council.
Does the Minister accept that the city councillors are very much overworked as well as county councillors?
That has not been brought home to me as forcibly as has the case of Dublin county councillors.
Is the Minister aware that the council concerned made a major submission to his predecessor on the proposed structure which they envisaged for local authorities in the Dublin area? Will he make a statement on the contents of that submission?
If the Deputy would put down a question I will.
The Minister says that this matter is under review. Is he in a position, having reviewed it over the last four months, to rule out the proposal contained for the Greater Dublin area in the Government White Paper of 1971?
I am not in a position to answer that question.
That is a separate question.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Could the Minister give an indication of the number of review bodies he has established in his Department since he took over office?
That is a separate question.
In the case of this area could the Minister make an exception and take it out of the overall consideration of the country as a whole because of the exceptional circumstances and the urgency of this?
I will have that examined but at this stage I cannot say what the possibility is.