Vol. 492 No. 1
175 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his intentions regarding the upgrading to urban council status of Newbridge Town Commission; the plans, if any, he has to investigate these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13670/98]
No urban district council has been established since the foundation of the State, due in part to defects in the outdated legislation which applies. The immediate legislative priority was to put in place the new local government funding system for 1999 and onwards. The Local Government Act, 1998, enacted on 29 May 1998, provides for this and other improvements. I intend to bring forward further comprehensive legislation, which will modernise local government law generally, for publication to mark the centenary of local government. Preparation of this legislation has commenced and it will, inter alia, contain a modern statutory framework for local authority structures. Any proposals for change in status of town authorities must be considered in the context of this legislation.
