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

The report of the Waterford local government committee on local government arrangements in Waterford was submitted to me on 29 March. Following Government approval, it has been published on my Department’s website. The report recommended that the county council of Waterford and the city council of Waterford be unified to replace the existing councils with effect from the 2014 local elections. The committee indicated that it had reached its conclusion having carefully weighed the evidence and considered the concerns about amalgamation raised during the consultation process. The context for the committee’s deliberations, the approach and rationale adopted in its analysis and the advantages associated with the merger are fully set out in the report.

Regarding the boundary areas between counties adjoining Waterford, the implementation group's report recommends the need for more effective arrangements for co-ordinated development planning between nearby counties and the need to develop a multi-authority retail strategy. Implementation arrangements, similar to those followed in Limerick and Tipperary to date, are being put in place in Waterford. I have appointed an implementation group which will be chaired by Mr. Seán Aylward who chaired the Waterford local government committee to identify further details of the requirements for the merger and oversee the establishment of the arrangements necessary for the reorganisation and transition to a single authority in mid-2014. The group will produce an implementation plan by the end of June 2013 to provide a blueprint to guide and direct the restructuring process. I have published the terms of reference and membership of the group. I expect that planning for the new arrangements will begin immediately. As was the case in Limerick and Tipperary, it is proposed that a dual management structure will be put in place on an interim basis to manage and drive the restructuring process and the transition to full amalgamation.

Amendment of the Local Government Act 2001 will be necessary for appointment of a single manager to manage both authorities in advance of a merger. Further substantive legislation will also be required to implement, with effect from the next local elections, the merger of the two authorities and establishment of a new unitary authority.

In regard to local government efficiencies and savings that can be made, I am advised that approximately €2.4 million of the €195.5 million efficiency savings during 2010 and 2011 that have been identified by the independently chaired Local Government Efficiency Review Group has been attributed to Waterford City Council and just over €2 million has been attributed to Waterford County Council. This is not included in the estimated financial savings of at least €5 million identified by the Waterford Local Government Committee, which relate purely to savings that would be likely to arise from merger of the authorities and does not include savings that might otherwise arise, for example, through other efficiency measures.

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