Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 October 2004
181 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the urban areas in this country with a population of over 7,500 persons yet without town council status; and when such towns will be considered by him and his Department to receive such a status. [24951/04]
View answerSection 185 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that qualified electors of a town having a population of at least 7,500 as ascertained at the last preceding census and not having a town council may make a proposal for the establishment of such a council. Under the relevant provisions of the Act, which I hope to commence in the near future, a proposal to establish a town council is a matter for the local community in the first instance and thereafter a decision on whether to proceed further with such a proposal is a reserved function of the relevant county council, following a public consultation process. While towns with a population of 7,500 or more may be identified from the published 2002 census report, volume 1, the process of establishing a town council must be initiated at local level. It is not possible to indicate the towns which may decide to initiate such proposals or the timing of any such proposals.
