Electoral Reform

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017

Tuesday, 21 March 2017

Questions (462)

John McGuinness

Question:

462. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of money spent by his Department on the Waterford Kilkenny boundary report; the amount of money spent by Waterford and Kilkenny county councils in preparing their respective inputs to the process; if the figures include the number of person hours worked by all parties involved in the process; if not, if he will quantify this cost; and the next steps in the process and the timeframe for a final decision. [13839/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

General expenses recouped to date specifically in relation to the Waterford boundary review committee amounted to €8,051. This recoupment was in respect of expenses incurred by the committee members. The members provided their time and expertise on a pro bono basis, and no fees were paid to them.

An amount of €70,460 was paid to the Institute of Public Administration in respect of their work in supporting all 4 boundary committee reports. Details of costs, including man-hours, incurred by the individual local authorities are a matter for that authority, and I have no function in relation to any expenditure they may have incurred from their own resources in connection with this matter.