I wish to share my time with Deputy Mattie Brennan.
Adjournment Debate. - Status of Sligo Borough.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this important subject regarding the citizens of Sligo. There has been a question mark in recent times over the future of the borough of Sligo and it is important that it should be clarified at the earliest possible date. Certain people have tried to make a major political issue out of it by inferring that it is proposed to downgrade the status of Sligo borough. This is not the position, but it is imperative that a clear signal is given to the members and staff of Sligo Borough Council.
We are all aware of the tremendous work being done by the local authority in Sligo town and the work done over the years. Its functions, such as striking a rate and dealing with all its own internal problems, must be retained. The position of uncertainty has led to people within the corporation becoming concerned and feeling that they are left in a position where they do not know what the future will hold. The possibility of expansion rather than the reduction in the powers of Sligo Borough Council is the most important matter. I make this point because Sligo is one of the fastest developing areas in the north-west and has been cited in numerous reports as an area for major expansion.
I hope the Minister, on behalf of his colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, will clarify this matter and put the citizens of Sligo at ease.
I, like my colleague, Deputy Ellis, would to like to raise the important matter of the status of Sligo Borough. Sligo was granted borough status in 1609 by King James I and it is one of the oldest borough councils in the country. It is also one of the most historic. Sligo is the capital of the north-west and is identified in the Fitzpatrick report as a major regional growth centre. Sligo is the hub of the north-west, a growing and prosperous borough with an increased population and a geographic location which puts it in the centre of the BMW region.
Sligo is also the business hub of the north-west region. Offices for the region for banking, insurance, the IDA, etc. are located in Sligo. As the only borough within the BMW region, it would be a shame if the proposed downgrading to Sligo borough went ahead. Sligo is the home to the institute of technology, with almost 4,000 students. It is recognised as providing the leading education facility of the north-west. Sligo town is also a major shopping centre of the north-west.
The people of the north-west, particularly Sligo, do not want to see the downgrading of Sligo borough. We in Sligo want the borough council retained with the same powers as before, including those, as my colleague, Deputy John Ellis, said, relating to the striking of rates etc. There is a groundswell of opinion in favour of maintaining the Sligo borough status, which most politicians in particular acknowledge. I, like my colleague, want to see that status maintained. I would like the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Deputy McDaid, to ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to make sure that Sligo is not downgraded.
As my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, is unable to be in the House this evening, I am delighted to respond to this matter on his behalf, and I thank Deputies Ellis and Brennan for raising it.
As the House is aware, the Local Government Bill, 2000, was published before the summer recess and will be considered by this House in the coming weeks. The Bill seeks to consolidate and modernise local government law, introduces a range of reforms and generally underpins the programme of local government renewal which is well under way. Following from last year's referendum, Bunreacht na hÉireann recognises local government as part of our democratic system and guarantees local elections. Article 28A of our constitution provides, inter alia, that there shall be such directly elected local authorities as may be determined by law.
The Local Government Bill, 2000, follows directly from this provision. It places our local authorities within a modern statutory framework repealing 19th century UK statutes on which the system is currently based. By way of comparison, our neighbours in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland are now governed by their own separate modern local government code. In our local government law, Sligo is currently described as a borough under the Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act, 1840. The Local Government Bill, 2000, seeks, inter alia, to replace 19th century terminology with modern language of relevance to Irish society in the 21st century. To reflect this, the 19th century statutory reference to “borough” is changed to “town”, as was proposed by the previous Government in its White Paper, Better Local Government. This was recommended also in the Barrington report of 1990 and by the commission on local government in 1996.
The Minister would like to reassure everyone that what is involved here is simply an updating of terminology in local government law. It does not affect the reality of Sligo's position as a major regional centre. Under the Bill, the office of Mayor will continue and the borough council membership will remain at 12.
In updating 19th century law, it is not the intention to turn our backs on the past but to recognise centuries of civic history and tradition. To this end the Local Government Bill, 2000, contains specific recognition of the original royal charters from which the boroughs draw their historic roots. I am aware of the concerns which have been expressed by the boroughs and the mayors and the perception that in some way they are being downgraded. The Minister has listened to the genuinely expressed concerns of local people and their public representatives. Local customs and traditions and a sense of identity and affinity with the places where we were born and reared are important to us all. That is why the Minister gave an undertaking to look again at the position as it affects the borough local authorities to allay concerns with regard to the Bill.
The Minister is currently engaged in a consultation process through the local authority representative associations and is confident the conclusion of this process can lead to a satisfactory outcome. This Bill, when enacted, will allow us all to move forward together in building a better local government system that will support and enhance the growth and development of our country.
Lest anyone doubt our commitment to the development of Sligo, it forms part of the BMW region for which the Government secured full Structural Fund support up to 2006. The Department of the Environment and Local Government will, through the major investment programmes set out in the national development plan, support the provision of improved water supply and waste water treatment systems with projects like the Sligo environs water supply scheme and Sligo main drainage scheme at a total cost of more than £45 million. A major programme of improvements on national roads serving the Sligo area is being supported, including the Sligo inner relief road and the N14, N15, N16, N17 and N59, and there is a substantial increase in funding for non-national roads. Such major investment will provide the foundation for continued economic and social development in Sligo and surrounding areas and is a vote of confidence for the future.
The Minister has given a commitment to the representative associations to meet them again to discuss various aspects of the Bill, and he will do so shortly. The Bill will be a better one as a result of this dialogue.