Vol. 415 No. 4
3 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment if the promised creation of district councils is still Government policy; if so, if it is intended to hold district council elections in June, 1992 and if not, when they will be held; whether he is still planning on abolishing the existing (1) town commissioners (2) urban district councils and (3) borough councils; and when the necessary legislation is likely to be circulated.
4 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment if he will report on the progress made to date of the Ministerial Committee on local authority sub-county structures; when legislation will be introduced on this matter; and if he will outline the date of elections to this tier of local government.
12 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment whether it is still the intention of the Government that new regional authorities will be established not later than 31 March 1992; if, in the light of the commitment given in the Review of the New Programme for Government that decisions would be taken on new sub-county structures before the end of 1991, he will outline the Government's position on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
14 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment the proposed date for local elections this year.
134 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for the Environment if he will confirm that the district council elections will take place in 1992.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 4, 12, 14 and 134 together.
The first phase of the Government's local government reform programme was the enactment of the Local Government Act, 1991, which contains a range of reform measures. Other elements of the reform programme will be implemented progressively and any further legislation which is necessary to give effect to them will be brought forward as appropriate.
The 1991 Act provided, inter alia, for the postponement of elections to sub-county local authorities to allow for consideration of appropriate arrangements at that level. A ministerial group chaired by me was established to consider this question and will report to the Government as soon as possible. When decisions on this issue have been taken by the Government, the question of when elections at the sub-county level will be held can be considered further, taking practical and other relevant considerations into account.
In so far as the regional level is concerned, the review of the Programme for Government indicated that regional authorities would be established under the Local Government Act, 1991 not later than 31 March 1992. The necessary preparatory work to permit this is now in hands.
Is the Minister in favour?
Will there be elections for district councils in June this year?
That issue has not been decided by Government as yet. There is a committee sitting, of which I am chairman. We are looking at the issue of the sub-county structures. We will be reporting to Government and Government will make a decision in due course.
Do the Government still hold to the position enunciated by the Minister's immediate predecessor in accepting the recommendations of the Barrington Commission in relation to the sub-county tier, that is, the establishment of district committees? Is that still Government policy? Will the necessary legislative framework be introduced in this session and will the Minister report to the House on the current position of the ministerial committee, which I understood was to finalise recommendations for Cabinet by 15 January last?
The Barrington group did not come down in favour of a particular sub-county structure.
Two options.
Yes. They decided to give two options, district councils and district committees.
Does the Minister accept that these two options are being looked at?
Which does the Minister favour?
Naturally the two options are being looked at. It would not be appropriate to go into any detail about the committee's deliberations.
The Minister's predecessor accepted the Barrington recommendations. There are two options but it was accepted that one would be implemented. Is it the Minister's position that one of the two recommendations by Barrington will be implemented? Yes or no?
The Programme for Government was quite clear in stating that the Government would take account of the Barrington group's recommendations, having regard also to the costs involved. The Government are looking at what Barrington has recommended. It will be a matter for the committee to recommend to Government what they believe should be done.
Can the Minister give a timescale?
It is hoped to make progress as rapidly as possible. It was the intention that there should be elections this year.
Will the Minister accept that if there are to be district councils there will have to be new legislation? That legislation is not yet drafted and clearly will not be before the House for some time. Given the timescale needed to select candidates for any new district councils, will the Minister not accept that it is unrealistic to talk about elections in June? In the interests of clarity, will he announce that there will not be elections in June?
When the report of the ministerial group is considered by Government, the question of when elections will be held will be considered further, taking practical and other relevant considerations into account.
