Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand Deputy Cowen’s point. Communities require a structure by which they can interact with the local authorities, whether that is a municipal district or a county or city council. I hope that before the conclusion of this legislation we will be able to consider additional advice from a working group chaired by Fr. Seán Healy to see how the community and voluntary fora, and the community in general, could interact with the local authority in a structured way. Citizens’ and community engagement is important. I am considering that. Between now and Report Stage I might have more information arising from the report of that working group next week, which will tell me what it believes is the appropriate structure to ensure proper citizen engagement and community focus through the local elected members.

At the end of the day, the elected members have to make the decisions. I presume that the Deputy is referring to how people consult with elected members, before those decisions are made. There is provision in section 128 of the Local Government Act 2001 for local authorities to declare an appropriate local body to be a recognised association. The Deputy could read that section in the principal Act to see whether that is appropriate or sufficiently robust for the purposes of consulting, providing advice and entering agreements to carry out certain functions. In light of that section we may not need to approve this amendment but I would be open-minded enough to discuss this at a later stage, having considered the matter and seen what the working group on the community and voluntary sector gives me in the next few days.