Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
908. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider establishing a commission or working group to examine street names that are linked to slave owners and establish a process for appropriate replacements through public consultation; if he will provide guidance to local authorities on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12335/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Part 18 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, decisions to adopt a proposal to substitute a new place name in respect of a place, including the name of a street, and decisions to hold a ballot of qualified electors in respect of a proposal to change a place name, are reserved functions of local councils.
Following the enactment of the Local Government Act 2019, the relevant provisions of Part 18 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, have been commenced. This allows for new regulations to be made to provide for the holding of ballots for the purpose of changing place names.
Before making such regulations, however, it is necessary to ensure that the provisions of the 2001 Act and provisions relating to place names under Part 5 of the Official Languages Act 2003, which is under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, operate effectively together. Accordingly, my Department is engaging with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on this matter and seeking legal advice prior to the finalisation of the necessary regulations.
