Local Authority Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017

Tuesday, 10 October 2017

Ceisteanna (724, 744)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

724. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the corporate policy groups and strategic policy committees guidelines for the establishment and operation issued by his Department in June 2014 under section 133 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by section 48 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 intended to expand the role, function and responsibilities of corporate policy groups beyond policy matters and as defined by section 133(2)(a) of the 2001 Act (details supplied); if the corporate policy group would, in this new role, be empowered to organise the business of the elected council; if so, the reference in section 133 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by section 48 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, from which such powers, functions or responsibilities sourced for inclusion in the guidelines issued by his Department are sourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42707/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

744. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the corporate policy groups and strategic policy committees guidelines for the establishment and operation issued by his Department in June 2014 (details supplied) intended to expand the role, function and responsibilities of corporate policy groups beyond policy matters (details supplied); if the corporate policy group in the new role would be empowered to organise the business of the elected council; if so, the location in section 133 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, in which such powers, functions or responsibilities are sourced for inclusion in the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42392/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 724 and 744 together.

The Guidelines issued by my Department under section 133(10) of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, in relation to the Corporate Policy Groups, CPGs, and section 54(2) of the same Act in relation to Strategic Policy Committees, SPCs, provide a common general framework for the establishment and operation of the CPG and SPC structures.

The roles of the CPG is strategic in that it links and co-ordinates the work of the different SPCs. In this regard, the CPG may advise and assist the elected council in policy matters, the preparation of a draft corporate plan and the preparation of a draft budget for the local authority. The CPG may also promote co-ordination and avoidance of duplication in the discharge of reserved functions as between municipal districts and the local authority.

Full decision-making authority remains with the elected council. As independent statutory bodies it is a matter for each local authority to establish and operate its own CPG in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions and the guidelines issued thereunder.