Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2011
15 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the additional local authorities he has reviewed for possible amalgamation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30389/11]
View answer19 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 36 and 39 of 16 June 2011, the progress that has been made in reforming local government; if he has received the first report of the independent implementation group charged with progressing recommendations of the local government efficiency review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30359/11]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 19 together.
A range of work relevant to the reform and development of local government in accordance with the Programme for Government is under way and significant progress is being made.
In relation to structural reform of the local government system, I announced, on 28 June 2011, a Government decision to create a single local authority to replace Limerick County and City Councils with effect from the local elections in mid-2014. Subsequently the Government decided to establish a unified county council in Tipperary with effect from the same date. Implementation groups have been appointed to oversee planning, preparatory work and initial implementation of the reorganisation process in both Limerick and Tipperary and their work is proceeding. I have also established a Local Government Committee, under section 28 of the Local Government Act 1991, to consider whether the creation of a unified authority in Waterford would be desirable and that committee is due to report to me by end February 2012.
These measures are being progressed ahead of more comprehensive policy proposals which I intend to bring to Government shortly in relation to local government structures generally at regional, county, and sub-county levels. Decisions in relation to any further changes in local authority structures will be a matter for Government in that context.
In relation to the efficiency agenda, the work of the independent Local Government Efficiency Implementation Group is progressing. The Group has met on four occasions to date and will report to me at regular intervals, with its first report due shortly. A review of staffing levels in Dublin City Council has been completed and was published in July 2011. The report has identified a number of options for staffing reductions in the Council over the period to the end of 2014.
Specific measures to modernise local government are underway in parallel with the Efficiency Review Group's recommendations. These include implementation of the programme for Public Service Review and the Public Service Agreement (PSA) in local authorities in areas such as shared services, HR, ICT and procurement. Reports on progress and savings under the Local Government Sectoral Action Plan of the PSA were made to the Implementation Body in May 2011.
In line with the requirements of the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland, I announced the introduction of a household charge in 2012, on 26 July 2011. The announcement reflects the need, in the context of the State's overall financial position, to put the funding of locally delivered services on a sound financial footing, improve accountability and better align the cost of providing services with the demand for such services.
Finally, options for the greater alignment of community and enterprise functions with the local government system, in accordance with the Programme for Government, are also under consideration in my Department.
