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Local Authorities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

Questions (362)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

362. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 24 June 2021, the status of the review of the position in relation to the filling of the post of chief executive of Galway County Council on a permanent basis; the person or body that is carrying out the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46543/21]

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Written answers

The merger of Galway City Council and Galway County Council to create a single administrative area was recommended unanimously by the Galway Expert Advisory Group in April 2018.  This recommendation was endorsed by a Government Decision in June 2018 and provisions to give effect to this policy decision were included in the Local Government Bill 2018. Those provisions passed all stages in the Dáil but were defeated in the Seanad and were withdrawn. 

In light of the foregoing, it has been deemed appropriate to review the position in relation to the filling of the post of the Chief Executive of Galway County Council on a permanent basis and I intend to review the matter before the end of the year.

The appointment of a chief executive is not part of the review, however a decision on the timing of such appointment will be made following the review.

 There is a requirement for all Chief Executive posts for Local Authorities to be advertised openly on the www.publicjobs.ie website operated by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

The assignment by Government to PAS of key responsibilities in relation to the operation of the recruitment of Chief Executives to the Local Government Sector is underpinned by factors such as PAS’s statutory independence and by the core values that guide PAS’s activities, for example, impartiality, fairness and ethical conduct as well as PAS’s long-standing experience and deep expertise in carrying out assessment processes. 

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