Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 137, tabled by Deputies Ó Broin and Gould, seeks to amend section 47 to provide that the LDA will furnish a report to the Cathaoirleach of each local authority and the Cathaoirleach will make it available each member of the local authority.

I will be opposing the amendment, as I do not believe it is necessary. The LDA is required to prepare an annual report each year. The report is submitted to the Minister, who arranges to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The LDA, like all other public bodies, publishes a report. It is a requirement under the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. The LDA has published its 2019 report, which is available on its website. It is currently finalising the 2020 report, which will also be available on the website. The LDA will continue to do this in future years. Local authority members will be able to access that annual report on the LDA website, as it will be publicly available.