John Bruton
Question:2 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the date of completion of the first quarterly report on devolution of power to local authorities which he is submitting to a ministerial committee on the subject.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Devolution of Powers to Local Authorities.
The first quarterly report was submitted on 21 May 1992 to the chairman of the ministerial committee on sub-county local government structures and devolution of functions to local authorities.
The Minister for the Environment gave an interview during the week to a newspaper which appeared to give the impression that he said that he would be publishing surprisingly radical measures on the devolution of powers to local authorities in a very short time. Will the Taoiseach confirm that?
No, not until the matter has been considered at Cabinet and the decision taken am I prepared to state anything further.
The Minister for the Environment has in fact broken that Cabinet confidentiality that the Taoiseach is so anxious to preserve.
The Deputy, when asking the question, indicated that he was not sure what the Minister said when he referred to the devolution of functions to local government. I have already addressed the question and said that the matter will be considered by this committee in the first instance and then finally by the Cabinet. When that process is complete a decision will be announced.
Will the Taoiseach state how many quarterly reports he anticipates will be submitted and will he indicate the likely delay between the submission of the reports and the announcement of the decision? Are any legislative changes required as a result of the recommendations made in the first quarterly report?
May I remind the Deputy that the ministerial committee on sub-county local government structures and devolution of functions to local authorities was established following a Government decision of 24 March 1992 and they have now submitted their first quarterly report. Undoubtedly, at the end of the day, when the decisions are taken, legislative proposals will be proceeded with.
In respect of the first quarterly report, do any of the recommendations contained therein require legislation?
I am not prepared to discuss the elements of that report as it has been submitted to a sub-committee of the Cabinet which is chaired by the Minister for the Environment. When the Cabinet deliberations are complete I will comment further on it.
Why is it necessary to have this report examined by a sub-committee of the Cabinet? Would it not be better if the report had been sent directly to the Cabinet for their decision?
That is a matter for the Cabinet to decide. We made that decision, which is our prerogative.
It is a time wasting exercise.