An initial legislative provision to enable the administrative integration of Galway City and County Councils, as a precursor to full integration of the two local authorities, was included in the Local Government Bill 2018 but was not approved as the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas. Accordingly, drafting of the further Bill, which would have provided for the full integration of the two local authorities, is not planned to be advanced in 2019.
In 2014, the then Minister appointed a Temporary Chief Executive for Galway County Council until a permanent appointment was made. This took account of the ongoing local government reform programme. Following the outcome of the legislative process in relation to the Local Government Bill 2018, as outlined above, my Department is reviewing the position in relation to the filling of the post of Chief Executive of Galway County Council on a substantive basis.