Vol. 560 No. 3
385 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if and when Tuam, County Galway, will be elevated to the status of a town council, UDC status, in view of the fact that Tuam is now designated as a hub centre under the spatial strategy plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2846/03]
389 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he intends to provide to former town commissions, the powers of former urban district councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2327/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 389 together.
The Local Government Act 2001 has been designed to provide a modern legislative framework for all local authorities. Under the Act all town councils, including former town commissioners, may take action to promote the community interest, exercise a representational role, with an office of mayor and structured linkage to the county council; provide local amenities and raise a local community contribution; make local by-laws and have statutory input to the local development plan process under the planning code.
Certain town councils, other than former town commissioners, are under the relevant statutory service codes responsible for certain mainline functions in the housing, roads and sanitary services areas. The Oireachtas in its recent comprehensive review and restatement of local government legislative powers has not seen fit to extend responsibility for such mainline functions to additional town councils, nor has this ever been done since the foundation of the State. There is no proposal to amend this position.
Under the national spatial strategy, the future development of towns nominated as hubs will be taken forward on the basis of integrated development frameworks to be formulated by the relevant local authorities working in partnership. The key steps in this process will include mobilisation of all relevant civic, business and community interests to establish consensus on the objectives for the hub and the surrounding catchment areas and its future development, putting in place appropriate strategies to guide development, and identification and commitment to the key actions required together with engagement of all necessary agencies.
Question No. 386 answered with Question No. 162.
