Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2004
83 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will create new local authorities such as town councils and so on and upgrade some borough councils to city borough status where there is evidence of significantly increased population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32778/04]
View answerThe Local Government Act 2001 modernises the legislative framework, supports community involvement with local authorities in a more participative local democracy and underpins generally the programme of local government renewal, including the position of county and city councils as the primary units of local government.
The Act takes account of the recommendations of the 1996 report of the reorganisation commission towards cohesive local government, town and county, regarding improved accessibility, interaction and linkages for all towns within their local county council areas as the way forward. Section 185 of the Act 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, in line with the population threshold recommended in that report. Under the relevant provisions of the Act, which I hope to commence in the near future, a proposal to establish a town council is, therefore, 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.
Under current local government law, there are five borough councils, each of which is responsible for a significant range of legal and administrative functions in their respective areas as well as contributing to local development in co-operation with their respective county councils. Any proposal to establish a new city council would require amending legislation and there are currently no proposals in this regard.
