Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 793: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce local government reforms that will allow for a directly elected Mayor of Dublin; when these reforms will be brought before Dáil Éireann; and when he hopes the election of Mayor for Dublin will take place. [17768/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Work is proceeding with a view to bringing policy proposals to Government as soon as possible in relation to the reform and development of local government in accordance with the Programme for Government. Decisions have already been taken to merge the authorities in Limerick and in Tipperary and implementation work is proceeding in both cases. I very recently received the report of the Waterford Local Government Committee which was established to consider whether Waterford City and County Councils should be unified and that report is under examination.

Building on these actions, I will be bringing wider policy proposals to Government for an action programme on local government, with particular focus on strengthening structures generally at regional, county and sub-county levels and expanding the role of local government. The programme will also reflect other work under way in relation to local government efficiency implementation and financing and will broadly map out further aspects of the local government system on which reform proposals will be considered. In that context, I intend to consider further the concept of a directly elected mayor and its relationship with the local government system.