Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I heard the Taoiseach speak earlier about the need for local authorities to step up to the plate to manage the housing crisis and I agree. One of the key ways we could do that is to have directly elected mayors in our cities so that the buck would stop with someone who would have the task of managing it. They could also manage the transport crisis we are facing where the lack of co-ordination between the four local authorities and neighbouring councils is leading to gridlock in our city. In that regard, will the Taoiseach outline what is the timeline for the Government in terms of arrangements for a plebiscite for directly elected mayors for Dublin, Cork, Galway or other cities?

We are on a very tight timeline. As I understand, an election would have to take place at the same time as the local elections in May 2019. What is the Government's timeline? When can we expect it to announce the proposal? Will it be part of a plebiscite later this autumn? Does the Minister agree that we are now committed to heading in that direction? The Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, has indicated that is what is likely to come out of it. When will the Minister announce it and what are the details of his timeline?

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