Local Authority Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 March 2012

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Ceisteanna (361, 362, 363, 364)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

412 Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Office for Local Authority Management was established to provide management and support services to the County and City Managers’ Association; the number of staff employed in the Office for Local Authority Management; the cost of salaries for staff; the total cost of financing the Office for Local Authority Management; if the Local Government Management Services Board provides any additional financial or staffing support to the County and City Managers’ Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The Office for Local Authority Management (OLAM), is under the remit of the Local Government Management Services Board (LGMSB), and provides management support services for City and County Managers including administrative and secretarial services to the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA) and its committees.

There are currently 5 people employed in OLAM with total salaries amounting to: €328,559 annually, which is the total cost of financing OLAM.

The LGMSB, through the Office for Local Authority Management provides administrative and secretarial services to the CCMA and its committees, and in addition to this the Local Government Management Services Board provides meeting room facilities to the CCMA.

Joan Collins

Ceist:

413 Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he or any officials from his Department have had a meeting or meetings with the chairperson (details supplied) of the County and City Managers’ Association since they took up office; the dates on which the meetings took place, the purpose of the meetings; the topics discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The information sought in the question is set out in the table below.

Date	Purpose of the Meeting	Topics Discussed
12/12/2011	Meeting of CCMA representatives with the Secretary General, and Assistant Secretary, Local Government Division, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government	Local Government Efficiency
12/12/2011	Meeting of CCMA representatives with the Local Government Efficiency Review Implementation Group	Local Government Efficiency
14/02/2012	Meeting with Chairman of the Local Government Efficiency Review Implementation Group and Assistant Secretary, Local Government Division, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government	Local Government Efficiency
16/02/2012	Meeting of CCMA Executive with Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s Management Advisory Committee	Local Government Efficiency Review, Croke Park Agreement, Programme Delivery and Capital Expenditure on Water Reforms/Irish Water and Housing, Local Government Finance including the Household Charge, Motor Tax together with Progress Reports/Updates on Septic Tanks, Drivers Licences Local Enterprise/Business Support, Community Alignment, Local Authority Restructuring/White Paper, Waste Policy Development and Environmental Enforcement/Compliance
21/02/2012	Meeting of the full CCMA with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister of State for Minister for Housing and Planning.	Household Charge, Economic and Community Development, Housing Priorities, Household Budgeting and Community Employment Schemes

Joan Collins

Ceist:

414 Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding, if any, that is given to the County and City Managers’ Association by his Department, the Local Government Management Services Board, and individual local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14320/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

My Department does not provide funding to the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA). The provision of funding to the CCMA by the Local Government Management Services Board and individual local authorities is a matter for the Board and the individual local authorities.

Joan Collins

Ceist:

415 Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it has been brought to his attention that the Sligo county manager, in his report on the Sligo County Council budget for 2012, issued to councillors on the 6 December 2011, indicated that the council is hopeful of progressing the following projects (details supplied) in 2012; which of these projects he will fund in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14321/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 131 and 134 of 29 September 2011, 466 of 24 January 2012, 196 of 22 February 2012 and 352 of 6 March 2012, in which I stated that it is a matter for each local authority, including Sligo County Council, to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources.

I have no function in relation to the road projects referred to in the question. I have been advised by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, that information in relation to funding of road projects in 2012 is available in the Dáil Library under 2012 Grant Allocations to Local Authorities for National Roads and 2012 Grant Allocations to Local Authorities for Regional and Local Roads.

In respect of water schemes, the Lough Talt Regional Water Supply Scheme, the Grange, Strandhill and Tubbercurry Sewerage Schemes (Wastewater Treatment Plants Upgrades) and the Water Conservation Stage 3 Works are included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012.

Sligo County Council is currently completing planning issues relating to the Lough Talt Regional Water Supply Scheme, with a view to submitting Contract Documents to my Department as soon as possible.

While Sligo County Council has sought tenders for the work for the Grange, Strandhill and Tubbercurry Sewerage Scheme (Wastewater Treatment Plants Upgrades), funding and other issues have yet to be resolved. My Department will shortly be writing to the County Council in connection with this scheme.

The following Contracts have been approved for funding in relation to the Water Conservation Stage 3 scheme:

South Sligo Watermains Replacement Works — Contract No. 3 — Approved for funding in June 2011. This Contract is substantially completed.

Sligo Water Conservation Mains Rehabilitation Works and Sligo and Environs Sewerage Scheme — Advance Works — Pearse Road Storm Sewer — approved for funding in February 2012. I understand that this contract will commence in the next six to eight weeks subject to contract formalities being in place.

In relation to a new burial ground for the Grange/North Sligo area, I have no role in relation to the provision of burial grounds, as it is a matter for each local authority. There is also no funding provision in my Department for burial grounds.

Library Authorities were requested, in 2008, to provide details of priorities for library development within their area and, in this regard, my Department provided capital funding towards the provision and refurbishment of new and existing public libraries.

Sligo County Council ranked the Central Library and Headquarters as its main priority, followed by Ballymote branch library as its second priority. Grant aid of €670,000 was approved and drawn down in respect of the Ballymote project, with the final payment being made in December 2010. My Department's allocation for 2012 of €5m for Library Capital projects is fully committed to ongoing Library projects.

At the request of Sligo County Council, I met with a delegation from the Council on 31 January 2012 to discuss its financial position, including its adopted 2012 budget. My Department continues to be in ongoing consultation with the Council in relation to these matters.