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

As in most areas of academic work, views on the optimal size of local authorities vary and international comparisons can be complicated by difficulty in comparing like with like. In the light of the range of functions of local authorities, their responsibilities for the delivery of services and the improvements in representational effectiveness and accountability, I am satisfied that the Government has struck an appropriate balance to optimise efficiency. Moreover, factors other than population and scale are relevant, including the strength of attachment to the county in Ireland.

The Government has affirmed the city and county as the core element of local government in Ireland, but various roles and functions will be performed at different levels of local government. As the report of the local government efficiency review group indicated, many services require a scale beyond the county to maximise efficiency, which is why a shared services approach is being prioritised in administrative areas such as treasury management, payroll, transactional human resources, back and front office information and communication technology services and accounts payable. A shared approach to procurement is also being taken. Lead authority models, where one local authority provides a service on behalf of others, are also being followed .

Within counties, the arrangements for sub-county governance set out in therecently announced action plan for local government entitled, Putting People First, are designed to maximise efficiency through countywide administrative integration. Representational effectiveness is being significantly enhanced by devolving a range of decisions to elected members at district level.

Local authorities will have the flexibility to organise service delivery so as to maximise the effectiveness of customer service. The number and size of districts will be determined on the basis of an independent local electoral area review. It is possible that many districts will be within or close to the population range referred to in the question.

Regarding the regional and national levels, an oversight role in shared services and procurement is envisaged for revised regional bodies. The proposed national oversight and audit commission and the regional assemblies’ contribution to efficiency will be through their oversight role rather than direct delivery of services.

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