John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate, particularly to comment on the specific proposals put forward by Deputy Lahart. I am very pleased that it is not overly prescriptive and that we are entering a period of consultation in determining what should be the roles and functions of a directly elected mayor. That is a worthwhile exercise. I listened to Deputy Ryan's contribution and his concern around having a meeting and who might turn up and so forth. There are two elements to doing a consultation. Obviously there is a public element to which anybody should have an opportunity to contribute. It is also important to engage with the stakeholders who would subsequently be responsible for delivery of services. There needs to be a structure to the consultation process and that is a matter for the Minister. It is really important that it develops and that the Members of the House and those outside it have a contribution to make. If they do then the plebiscite is more meaningful to them. Sometimes when there is a mixed group, such as the group in this House, one is told that it will never come to a consensus, and while I previously might have held that view I do not subscribe to it now. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan has sat on a committee with Members of all parties and none and produced a housing report. By and large there was a lot of consensus because we did not come in to the committee with our own particular ideas, we listened to the expert witnesses and we formed opinion based on the evidence that was presented in front of us. I would like to think that the consultation process for this new directly elected mayor would develop in that way.

While I speak enthusiastically about a directly elected mayor I want it on the record that I very much favour the retention of the four local authorities, and their input, as we have them. I remember when we had a Dublin county council and people were doing development plans for a great area rather than for the smaller areas we now have. The current system is much more meaningful. Councillors are engaged in their own counties with populations of maybe 250,000 and are involved in their local area committees for the development of local development plans at a level where people know what is going on. It is meaningful and we do not have a situation where a person from Balbriggan, for example, talking about issues in Clondalkin or Lucan, or where a person from Clondalkin and Lucan is talking about developments on the other side of the city. It is much more tangible and real. During this process I do not want to lose what we have gained in recent years since the establishment of the four local Dublin authorities. It has been very beneficial.

That being said, I am acutely conscious that the population of Dublin is due to grow by around 600,000 in the 30 year period up to 2050. that is very substantial growth and if it is to be accommodated in a serious and meaningful way and if we are not to be constantly chasing infrastructure and facilities, then it must be planned and managed on a county-wide basis. For example, a decade ago there was a proposal to have a metro west project. It was a good idea then and most people subscribed to it, but we know that due to the economic situation it could not be delivered. It is more worrying that while the metro north project continues, the metro west project as a vision for Dublin is no longer included in plans for capital investment. I am not talking about capital investment this year or next year. Deputy Ryan is right. We need a vision for five, ten and 20 years. That type of infrastructure requires that type of planning. If a city is to grow by 600,000 people in a 30 year period it needs a co-ordinated approach to economic activity, location of industry, the roles of industry and education, the locations of centres of excellence based around third level institutions, transport and housing. All of these need to be dealt with on a co-ordinated Dublin wide basis, not on the basis of local authorities competing with each other. There must be a vision for a greater Dublin area. Other European cities have directly elected mayors. It is not the directly elected mayor per se, it is the role and responsibilities that go with the position that are key to this. The consultation process will be crucial in that regard. Deputy Ryan is right, and I believe that Dublin - as a capital city - is not competing with Cork and Waterford. We are competing with other European capital cities and we need to have a vision that will make people want to live here, invest here and work here and that we will provide a capital city that will equal any of our European counterparts. The purpose and function of having a directly elected mayor and the office that will go with the position is to co-ordinate across housing, transport and all the key areas on a county wide basis and not to overrun and overrule the work being done by local authorities in their capacities. There will have to be a balancing of the powers of a new mayor with the existing powers of the four local authorities. I am conscious that I have gone over time so I will conclude and allow time to Deputy Chambers.

See this speech in context