Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Mar 1995

Vol. 451 No. 2

Written Answers. - Local Government Act, 1991.

Noel Dempsey

Question:

73 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the powers which have been devolved to local authorities since the enactment of the Local Government Act, 1991; and the extra finance which has been made available to the local authorities to enable them undertake the extra duties. [6313/95]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

It is the policy in framing new legislation that appropriate functions should be devolved to local authorities and unnecessary controls removed. Recent roads, road traffic and local government legislation provided accordingly in areas such as extinguishment of public rights of way, abandonment of public roads, speed limits, traffic management, parking controls, by-laws, provision of amenities and general competence of local authorities, as does legislation currently before the Oireachtas in relation to casual trading. Local authorities were given full responsibility for the various new schemes in the plan for social housing and requirements for Department approval in housing construction were reduced. In 1993 a wide range of central controls on local authorities were removed by regulations, affecting matters such as land disposals, staffing, car parks and local authority procedures. Future legislation affecting local authorities will continue these trends, wherever possible.

It is, of course, a matter for each local authority, in framing its annual Estimate to determine levels of expenditure and the sources of finance for each of its programmes. It has not been the practice, with certain limited exceptions, to make specific grants available to meet the cost of local authority services which fall to be funded from their revenue accounts.

Noel Dempsey

Question:

74 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the sections of the Local Government Act, 1991, which have been commenced; and the plans, if any, he has to commence the remaining sections of the Act. [6314/95]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

At this stage, over two-thirds of the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1991, have been commenced. The relevant commencement orders are S.I. No. 122 of 1991; S.I. No. 130 of 1991; S.I. No. 180 of 1991; S.I. No. 390 of 1993. The provisions yet to be commenced are Parts V and VI and section 54 (a), together with associated repeals. The commencement of these provisions will be considered in the light of proposals arising from the review of town local government being carried out under Part X of the Local Government Act, 1994.