Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is indeed a historic day for Limerick. This is something I am incredibly proud to have brought through the Houses of the Oireachtas. Limerick is really leading the way. This is probably one of the most significant reforms in local government since the foundation of the State. The legislation also allows for plebiscites for all local authorities. We hope that many will take up this offer and go forward with establishing their own directly elected mayors. It is absolutely groundbreaking.

The directly elected mayor will have a mandate as a result of being elected by the people. He or she will have the means as additional Exchequer funding in the order of €40 million for the mayoral programme will be coming to Limerick over the term. Structures will also be provided. The mayor will interact with Government in plenary sessions at least twice a year but as often as either side wishes. They will rank equally at those sessions. Furthermore, the mayor will have his or her own mayoral programme and will bring all of the stakeholders together in that regard. It is very much about delivering on the ambitions for the office. The mayor will take on a lot of the executive role currently held by the CEO along with a range of new functions. The mayor will bring the budget to the chamber, which is currently done by the CEO. He or she will bring all development plans to the chamber, which is also currently done by the CEO. That budget is of the order of €600 million a year. It is a substantial budget. Voting for this office will allow the people of Limerick a greater say in how services and infrastructure are delivered and in how Limerick develops.

I thank Members across the Oireachtas. This Bill has been given 20 hours of debate comprising an equal amount, more than ten hours, in the Dáil and the Seanad. It has been rigorously debated and the contribution from Opposition and Government TDs and Senators has been quite significant. I have taken on quite a number of amendments because I want to make the legislation as robust as possible. I have taken on amendments in both in the Dáil and the Seanad. It is very important.

I acknowledge the contribution of the implementation advisory group chaired by Tim O'Connor. It did great public service for the people of Limerick and Ireland. I also acknowledge the work of my predecessors, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, and the former Minister of State, Deputy John Paul Phelan, who did a great deal of work on this. I acknowledge the input of the councillors and officials in Limerick City and County Council. In developing the legislation, they have been open and engaging. Change is never easy but I have sought to ensure that the reserved powers of the councillors do not change. The mayor will bring added value. Limerick will be the first city and county in Ireland to have a directly elected mayor to which people visiting from abroad can come. I hope Limerick will lead the way and that other local authorities will follow suit.

Cabinet decided to hold the election on the same day as the local elections, which will be held between 6 June and 9 June. People will appreciate that we could not roll out any public awareness campaign until the legislation was finalised and passed in the House. The fact that there was no vote on the Bill's final passage is very welcome. I thank all Members for that. The Bill now goes to the President to be signed. Shortly thereafter, we will roll out an intensive public awareness campaign for the people of Limerick city and county so that everyone will be fully aware. I wish all candidates, male and female, the best. The level of interest in the post shows that it is a vibrant position that will add value and change the face of local government in Limerick. I hope it will also lead the way nationally. This legislation will work as a result of incredible belief.

Finally, I acknowledge the incredible work of the officials in the Department of housing. They have worked might and mane in a very creative way. They uphold the best principles of public service provision. I am privileged to have worked with them both as Minister of State with responsibility for bringing through this legislation and as a TD for Limerick city, something which is particularly important to me. I acknowledge the presence in the Chamber of my colleagues from Limerick, Deputies Leddin and Quinlivan, and of Deputy Mitchell. We are in for an exciting time in Limerick over the coming months and into the future with a directly elected mayor.

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