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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 6

Written Answers. - Development of Local Authorities.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

119 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment the policies, if any, the Government has in regard to the development of local authorities; and, if so, the main thrust of such policies.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

123 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to transfer powers and functions from his Department to local authorities to make local government more meaningful; and when any such proposals will be implemented.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 123 together.

The Programme for a Partnership Government outlines a range of measures for the strengthening and development of local government. Significant progress has been made in implementing these, including re-organisation of local government in Dublin, establishment of regional authorities, designation of additional reserved functions for local authority members, arrangements for reform of local government at sub-county level, as well as the measures to increase the functions and discretion of local authorities.

It is the policy in framing new legislation that appropriate functions should be devolved to local authorities and unnecessary controls removed. Recent roads, road traffic and local government legislation provides accordingly in areas such as extinguishment of public rights of way, abandonment of public roads, speed limits, traffic management, parking controls, by-laws, libraries, provision of amenities and general competence of local authorities, as does legislation currently before the Oireachtas in relation to casual trading. Local authorities were given full responsibility for the various new schemes in the plan for social housing. In 1993 I made an order removing a wide range of existing central controls on local authorities. Future legislation affecting local authorities will continue these trends, wherever possible.

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