Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Mayoral Election

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Ceisteanna (1202, 1203, 1204)

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

1202. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has received the report into potential arrangements and powers for directly elected mayors in Cork and other cities; and if so, if he will publish same. [45576/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

1203. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans with regard to arrangements and powers for directly elected mayors in Cork and other cities on which it has been indicated there will be plebiscites held in June 2019. [45577/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

1204. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the effort he has made to engage with and consult local citizens and political parties with regard to arrangements and powers for directly elected mayors in Cork and other cities on which it has been indicated plebiscites will be held in June 2019. [45578/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1202 to 1204, inclusive, together.

At its meeting of 27 September 2018, the Government approved the policy paper "Local Authority Leadership, Governance and Administration", prepared as part of the response to the Programme for Partnership Government commitment to report to Government and the Oireachtas on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability, and to consider directly elected mayors for cities. This policy paper has been forwarded to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Planning and Local Government for its consideration. 

The policy paper was prepared following consultations with a range of stakeholders in the context of consideration of the future governance of Ireland’s cities.

The Government also agreed in principle to the holding of plebiscites on directly elected mayors with executive functions for Cork City Council, Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council, and Galway City Council and Galway County Council (in anticipation of a full merger of those two local authorities in 2021) at the same time as the local elections in May 2019. This agreement is subject to the necessary legislative provisions being included in the Local Government Bill 2018 and the future submission of more detailed proposals on the plebiscites and the questions to be put to the electorate, as well as the specific powers to be given to mayors. My Department is prioritising this work, details of which will be published in due course.

Barr
Roinn