Mr. Daniel McLoughlin:

I thank the Chairman for giving us the opportunity to address the joint committee.

Reform of the local government sector has been ongoing for some time. With the local government efficiency review group's report, there is a three-dimensional reform programme, the most substantial ever undertaken in the history of local government. The reform programme is three dimensional in nature, dealing as it does with implementation of recommendations contained in the local government efficiency review group's report, the transition to Irish Water and the implementation of Putting People First. Associated with this restructuring there is a substantive local government workforce planning piece being developed.

The County and City Managers Association, CCMA, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, established a project management office headed up by Mr. David O’Connor. Our most recent and second report to the Minister highlighted gross savings of €839 million in the sector between 2008 and 2012. The sector achieved efficiency savings of €259 million between 2008 and 2012, as compared to the original local government efficiency review target of €220 million. Savings of €109 million were made in procurement, with a national procurement office, headed by Kerry County Council, established. Staffing levels have been reduced by almost 25% since 2008, a reduction representing in excess of 9,000 staff.

That is very significant. We are significantly challenged by the Irish Water transition process. We have established a transition office from our own resources, staffed by local authorities as part of the project manager's office. We are in the process of agreeing a 12-year service level agreement, SLA, with Irish Water, keeping local government at the forefront of services delivery. The water metering programme is ongoing and we are assisting in that. We are engaging with Irish Water on a county-by-county basis in the finalisation of the SLA and preparation of annual action plans and awaiting legislation to underpin all that. That is a significant piece of work.

The centrepiece of reform is the Putting People First reform document, which is underpinned by the recent publication of the Local Government Bill 2013. CCMA warmly welcomes the broad provisions in the Bill in so far as they underpin Putting People First. We welcome the establishment of local community development committees and the preparation of five-year plans. That is a very important enabler of local government, working with communities into the future and ensuring the spend in that community area is best targeted, properly integrated and avoids duplication.

We welcome the proposed establishment of a strategic policy committee, SPC, specifically devoted to economic development. That, together with the establishment of local enterprise offices, places local government at the centre of local economic development, where it has always been. The upsizing of the corporate policy group, CPG, is a good initiative. The establishment of the national oversight and audit commission, NOAC, will add further to the governance and credibility of the work of local government. The rebranding of the position of county or city manager as "chief executive" brings a more contemporary focus. We have expressed our reservations about the provision in legislation which allows local elected members to veto that appointment by their inaction. That is a vulnerable position for local councillors to be in.