Vol. 423 No. 8
167 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need to establish a regional authority for the Dublin area as provided for in the Local Government Bill; and the plans, if any, he has to establish such a body.
The provision in the Local Government Act, 1991 for the establishment of regional authorities is a general enabling power and is not specifically related to any particular area. In the case of the Dublin area, the process leading to the reorganisation of local government in accordance with Part IV of the 1991 Act is underway. The statutory reorganisation report has already been prepared and submissions from the Dublin local authorities are currently being received. Further legislation will be required to establish formally the three new county councils and, in that context, full consideration will be given to the question of the most appropriate arrangements for co-ordination within the Dublin area.
