Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2017
524. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the savings made to the Exchequer each year following the amalgamation of Tipperary north and Tipperary south county councils in 2014, taking into account the abolition of local town councils in the county; the way in which this equates to investment and the provision of funds to Tipperary County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40557/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe dividend for local authorities, including Tipperary, from the reformed structures introduced in 2014 cannot be measured solely in terms of a reduction of overall expenditure or savings. The reforms have resulted in many non-financial benefits due to the single administrative structure across each county which has reduced duplication with improved services which will bring about cost reduction over time.
In the case of the merged authority in Tipperary, independent review groups identified potential savings of around €6m in addition to the non-financial benefits. Separately, a report prepared by the Institute of Public Administration on the merger of the two councils has indicated that in Tipperary payroll savings alone are already estimated at around €3m per annum.
In 2015, after one full year of the operation of the revised structures, a broadly based Advisory Group was convened to carry out a review of their operation, in conjunction with a Local Government Forum for engagement with the Association of Irish Local Government. The results of the review will be incorporated into a report for Government and the Oireachtas under the Programme for a Partnership Government, which will be completed shortly.
