Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)

The election gave this Government a strong mandate for reform. This Bill is part of our overall objective for public sector reform in terms of agency rationalisation, local authority mergers and making substantial cuts to the number of State bodies and companies. The reduction in the number of State agencies will bring about savings in pay and administrative costs, although the challenge will be huge.

The main purpose of the Bill is legislatively to underpin any exiting or new bodies created under the Local Government Acts and facilitate the reorganisation, merger or abolition of State bodies and agencies in line with the Government's commitments. It specifically provides for the dissolution of a number of bodies established under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, as well as the transfer of functions, properties and liabilities of these bodies. It will allow the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to finalise arrangements for the rationalisation of State agencies under its control from 21 to 12.

The Government has approved the amendment of the Act to provide for the establishment of appropriate management arrangements for Limerick city and county councils and north and south Tipperary county councils prior to their respective mergers in 2014. The principal objective of this change will be to enable the same individual to be manager of more than one city or county council.

A single agency, the local government management agency, will provide shared services for industrial relations, ICT procurement and library services for each of the 34 local authorities. The two Limerick regeneration agencies will be dissolved. Their roles will be replaced with one joint management arrangement for Limerick city and county council. This is a step towards the merger of the two councils. Transformation can be difficult but the Government has the strong political commitment and conviction to implement the reform. Ireland has shown itself to be resilient and we pride ourselves on our adaptability. The legislation is part of our Government's agenda to reform for the future, to ensure we provide services in a more streamlined and efficient manner and to continue to make savings wherever and whenever possible. A strong and fit for purpose local government will be of benefit to all people of Ireland.

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