Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
2148. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when it is envisaged that Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas from County Cork will meet with the CEO of Cork County Council under section 237A of the Local Government Act 2001. [26676/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government Act 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations 2003 set out statutory provisions for local authorities and their dealings with members of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Section 12 of the Regulations requires that the Chief Executive, together with the Cathaoirleach, of each local authority meets at least annually with local Oireachtas members as a group. This provision aims to facilitate good communication and provide an opportunity for local authorities to update Oireachtas members, in their role as public representatives, on local developments.
My Department wrote to each Chief Executive in December 2016 to request that they review the arrangements in place for engaging with Oireachtas members so as to ensure that the obligations under the Regulations, including those related to communications and timeframes, are being complied with in a satisfactory manner.
Local authorities are independent statutory bodies in the performance of their functions. As such, the scheduling of the annual meeting with Oireachtas members is the responsibility of the relevant local authority, in this case Cork County Council.
