Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2016
48. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to report on his recent meeting with the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA; his position on the group's demands (details supplied); and if he will give LAMA a place on the Local Government Reform Committee. [18504/16]
View answerFollowing receipt of a request for a meeting, I met with representatives of the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) on 21 June 2016. During the meeting the LAMA delegation set out its views relating to elected member workload, following the implementation of the 2014 local government reforms, financial supports and social insurance issues affecting its members, as well as LAMA representation on groups involved with reviewing the operation of the revised local government structures.
I advised the LAMA delegation that my Department has no function in relation to PRSI contributions. I understand that this matter is being considered by the Minister for Social Protection.
On the issue of workload and financial supports for elected members, I have noted the views put forward by the LAMA delegation and I will be giving this issue further detailed consideration.
In 2015, a process was established by my predecessor to review the operation of the revised local government structures. This involved a broadly based Advisory Group, consisting of members appointed in a personal capacity rather than as representatives of particular organisations, and a Local Government Forum for engagement with the Association of Irish Local Government, which is the statutorily recognised body to represent the collective interests of local authorities.
I will consider the question of a role for these groups in the development of potential measures regarding local government reform arising from the Programme for a Partnership Government. Subject to decisions in this regard, it would be open to the Advisory Group and the Forum to engage with representatives of LAMA in a stakeholder capacity, where appropriate, having regard to the different roles of that Association and the Association of Irish Local Government, as set out in sections 225 and 226 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by section 56 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014.
