Kieran O'Donnell
Question:71. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the legislation for the establishment of the first directly elected mayor in the country. [3305/22]
View answerTuesday, 25 January 2022
Questions (71, 120)
Brian Leddin
Question:120. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the legislation on a directly elected mayor in Limerick; the timeframe for the passage of same through Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3195/22]
View answerOral answers (8 contributions)
The legislation for the establishment of the first directly elected mayor in Limerick city and county went through as a plebiscite in May 2019. I see that legislation is on the priority list. When does the Minister of State expect it to progress? What is the timeframe involved? Pre-legislative scrutiny took place and was signed off on 11 November 2021. When does the Minister of State expect the election to take place? The people of Limerick voted and want to see it being delivered.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 120 together.
At its meeting of 20 April 2021, the Government approved the general scheme of a Bill providing for a directly elected mayor for Limerick. The Government also approved the publication of the general scheme, as well as its referral both to the Oireachtas for pre-legislative scrutiny and to the Office of the Attorney General for priority drafting of a Bill. The general scheme is in line with the 2019 Government policy proposals for a directly elected Mayor with executive functions, and also reflects recommendations of the report of the implementation advisory group established to consider a directly elected Mayor with executive functions in Limerick, published in January 2021. In addition, the general scheme contains provisions necessary to allow a local authority to hold a plebiscite on the topic of a directly elected mayor with executive functions for their administrative area alongside the 2024 local elections.
On 11 November 2021, the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage published its report on pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme. The committee's report contained a number of important recommendations relating to the directly elected mayor, including the functions of the role, governance arrangements in the local authority and the budgetary process of the local authority, among other matters. The recommendations of the committee's report are under consideration with a view to their incorporation in the Bill in such a way that it will build on the work of the implementation advisory group.
In parallel, I continue to engage with colleagues right across Government to identify further functions and funding for assignment to the mayor and-or Limerick City and County Council. Drafting of this complex Bill is progressing steadily. Publication of the Bill has been identified as a priority for the Department as soon as possible. The timeframe for its passage through the legislative process will be a matter for the Oireachtas when it gets to that stage. It should be noted that the timing of elections for a mayor in Limerick will be decided by the Government once the legislation is enacted.
I have a few follow-up questions. When does the Minister of State expect the Bill to be published and come before the Houses of the Oireachtas? Obviously, Second Stage will be taken in the Dáil in the first instance. When does the Minister of State expect the election of the first directly elected mayor for the capital of the mid-west, and the third largest city and county in Ireland, to take place?
As the Minister of State is aware, almost three years ago, the people of Limerick voted in a plebiscite to have a directly elected mayor for Limerick city and county. Indeed, it was the people of Limerick who took this brave step when other cities and counties in Ireland chose not to. I am glad to see the Minister of State's predecessor, Deputy Phelan, here. He was the driving force behind this legislation. Deputy Phelan is on record as saying that this will be the most significant reform of local government in Ireland since the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. There is an urgency to it now. We must honour the decision made by the people of Limerick in the plebiscite. We need to put in place a directly elected mayor for Limerick to let him or her drive his or her vision for Limerick. Does the Minister of State expect that the legislation will go through the Houses and we will have a directly elected mayor in place this year?
I concur with the sentiments of the former Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, that it is the most progressive and the biggest reform of local government since the foundation of the State. In the first instance, looking at the timeline, on 24 May 2019 the plebiscite was held. Subsequently, we established the implementation advisory group in January 2021. Following that, there was a general election and programme for Government negotiations took place. Mr. Tim O'Connor and his advisory group had to go through their process online, which was very impressive. The group received over 1,000 submissions through an online process, which included all stakeholders in Limerick city and county. The general scheme was approved on 20 April 2021 and we received the pre-legislative scrutiny report of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage in November 2021. It is a priority, this term, to get the legislation through the Oireachtas. It is up to the Government to set a date for the election. I see my specific role as ensuring that the office of mayor - including the structure and governance aspects - is put in place so that the Government can make its decision on the timing of the election. I assure all Deputies that we are working very hard on the matter. We have it on the priority legislation schedule. Hopefully, we will make significant progress on it this term.
I have one question. When will the legislation be published? We cannot make progress until it is published. When, in this term, does the Minister of State expect it to be published?
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I was a member of the implementation advisory group before I found myself in this particular role.
I know quite a bit about this. It is critical the office has meaningful powers. The new directly elected mayor of Limerick, who I hope will be elected this year, should have the power to select staff and directors of services. He or she should be able to set the priorities of the council, have power over the budget and the spending of the council and have the power to raise revenue. I firmly believe we should build into the legislation a review mechanism to make it better. We need to honour the plebiscite we had in Limerick city and county three years ago. If the Government takes its role seriously in drafting the legislation the people of Limerick will take the election of the directly elected mayor seriously also.
I thank the Deputies. I have seen a first draft of the legislation. We are trying to build in the report on pre-legislative scrutiny from the Oireachtas joint committee and the bilateral engagement I have had with other Departments. This is significant. I encourage Deputies to encourage Ministers in various Departments to give a significant amount of power to the mayor. A big challenge is getting power from Dublin devolved to Limerick. We can see the benefits this can bring in other jurisdictions. I would appreciate any help colleagues can give me in this regard.