Vol. 448 No. 4
7 Mr. Molloy asked the Taoiseach when the Commission will be established to oversee a phased programme of devolution and a widening of the role of local government as recommended by the Barrington report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1912/95]
In accordance with the Government's programme for renewal, a commission will be established, as recommended in the Barrington report, to oversee a phased programme of devolution and a widening of the role of local government.
I am anxious that the approach taken will, in addition to developing the principle of subsidiarity, provide a framework for supporting a broadly participative approach to local democracy. In particular, I intend that the arrangements made will reinforce the support for local and community development which is being promoted through the Government's policy on local development.
The Barrington report recommended that the commission's establishment should be preceded by a Government statement on the role of local government and its future development. That statement will be issued by the Government by the end of April, at which time the commission will be appointed. In the meantime, I will meet with members of the Barrington committee and initiate more general consultation on the complex issues involved.
I welcome the Taoiseach's reply. Will the commission examine the question of local government funding?
I do not know the answer to that question at this juncture. The Government must issue its preliminary or general views on the remaining issues in the Barrington report, which will provide the agenda for the commission to oversee implementation of the reform. I am somewhat daunted by the task I have set of having a comprehensive statement on this matter ready by April next, but the Government will benefit from setting itself a date in this regard. Until now local government reform has always been considered important but never important enough to be placed at the top of a Government's agenda. I hope this comprehensive approach, which places responsibility for local government reform in the hands of the Taoiseach, will give it the necessary priority, but I in no way underestimate the political minefield into which I am entering in endeavouring to initiate such reform. I look forward to the comprehension, if not the support, of all Members on this matter.
I hope the Taoiseach has not set himself a target of 1 April for the completion of this matter.
No, the end of April is the target.
I welcome the Taoiseach's target, even if it is not met. I assume from his reply that he favours large scale local government reform. While he may not be able to outline his views on the matter, will he give the terms of reference, he proposes to give to the commission? Does he intend following the proposals in the Barrington report, the proposals outlined in reviews carried out in recent years or a combination of both?
It will be a combination of all. Members of the House, many of whom are members of local authorities, will find the forthcoming report of the National Economic and Social Council on rural development very interesting because it seriously criticises traditional local government as, for example, the preferred vehicle for rural development. While the natural tendency of all of us involved in party political politics will be to react negatively to such criticism, we must recognise that local authorities do not command the level of community support they should. We must resolve that difficulty and make them, not just formally the vehicle for reform, but one for reform that commands widespread support. I hope the debate on this matter will be honest and those involved in local government will be willing to examine the weaknesses of the system —including weaknesses for which they are responsible — as well as taking the traditional attitude of saying that if central Government gave them more power, they would solve everything, when that is not always the case.
There is not as much broadly based political support, outside the political class, for local government reform as we would like to believe there is. Perhaps the reason so much community effort has been poured into initiatives such as the Leader programme is that they provide a way for people to by-pass tradiional local government. We must ask ourselves why that is so and what can we do to make local government the chosen vehicle for that type of community initiative, which is not the case.
Does the Taoiseach accept that anybody who considers further or future deliberations on local government reform and does not, from the outset, take on board the key issue of funding will not make any real contribution to the future of local government? The Taoiseach should bear in mind that there is little point in giving new functions to local government unless the necessary finance is provided.
In other countries local government systems have a great deal of community support but do not raise the preponderant part of their finances locally. I do not know if the connection the Deputy seeks to draw is necessarily true. We should maintain an open mind in that regard. Having been a supporter of a past Government I am sure the Deputy will recognise that local government finance is a difficult issue——
It is the key issue.
——but it is not necessarily a required condition in any meaningful reform.
The Taoiseach referred to the Leader programme. I am sure he would not argue that the reason people opt for such programmes is that they consider them a means of obtaining finance. The Taoiseach did not answer my question relating to the terms of reference, perhaps he does not have the information.
I do not.
Will he give an undertaking that local development initiatives and the work of the previous Government in that area will be considered in the proposed reform. All that work will be lost if it is not linked to the overall structure? Also, will he ensure that in drawing up the terms of reference the representation between urban and rural is taken into account? The reason local authorities and corporations lose much of their focus in large city areas is that their representation is different from that of rural areas and the system loses out as a result. Will the Taoiseach ensure that both those matters are included in the terms of reference?
The terms of reference will oversee a phased programme of devolution and a widening of the local government, but that requires elaboration at a future date.
And the property tax?
The Deputy can leave that to us.
And the service charges?
I accept Deputy Ahern's point about the difference between urban and rural areas. The success or otherwise of local development initiatives will be taken into account in the review.
Will the Taoiseach accept that one of the handicaps of the Barrington committee was that it was precluded from examining the question of funding? Will he seriously consider that matter even if it involves establishing an all-party committee as it is probably a matter for politicians? If that matter is pursued, my party will support it because until we resolve the issue of funding we will not be able to reform local government.
I will hold the Deputy to that.
Yes, you may and I look forward to the invitation.
