The Action Programme for Effective Local Government , which I published in October 2012, sets out Government policy for reform of local government and, inter alia, includes the establishment of a National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC).
The NOAC will provide an independent high quality scrutiny of local government performance in fulfilling national, regional and local mandates. It will involve external evaluation expertise, political and administrative experience, and an independent chair. The Commission will operate partly through Regional Oversight Committees under the aegis of the regional assemblies and will report publicly and to relevant Ministers, Oireachtas Committees, regional assemblies and local authorities.
The establishment of the Commission will be undertaken as part of the implementation of the overall provisions in the Action Programme.