Vol. 508 No. 3
113 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when elections will take place for the position of full time directly elected mayors and county council chairpersons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18718/99]
By virtue of the recent constitutional amendment the next local elections fall to be held in 2004. In the context of the forthcoming local government Bill the question of introducing directly elected cathaoirligh in the case of county and city local authorities is being considered along with a longer term of office for all cathaoirligh. Current local government law provides that the cathaoirleach of a local authority is elected annually by the members of that local authority. These arrangements will continue to operate until replaced by new statutory provisions. The local government Bill will set out the new framework and provide for when it will come into operation.
