Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether regional authorities are effective in the local government system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42826/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The general function of regional authorities is to review the overall needs and development requirements of their respective regions and facilitate communication and co-operation between local authorities and other public authorities with regard to policies and services being delivered by these bodies. The role of regional authorities under the Planning and Development Act 2000 in drawing up regional planning guidelines as an overall co-ordinating framework for all city and county development plans is of particular importance in pursuing sustainable development.

The Green Paper on local government, Stronger Local Democracy - Options for Change, which I published in April 2008, raised the question as to whether change in local government arrangements was necessary in key locations to drive regional development. Stronger Local Democracy noted that part of the challenge was to ensure local government would be capable of developing and facilitating the development of the gateways as envisaged by the national spatial strategy. The renewed programme for Government is relevant to this question, as it commits to the provision of democratic leadership for regional authorities and the strengthening of their strategic role across a range of functions, in addition to their realignment to reflect the gateways in the national spatial strategy. The White Paper on local government which I will bring to the Government shortly will reflect the programme's commitments.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Minister mentioned the programme for Government and the Green Paper which, in chapter 2, mentions that, because of the small size of Ireland, there is centralised administration, with people having an affinity for local structures. The Green Paper did not advocate strong elected regional authorities. Is that still the Government's position? In the light of the fact that the Green Paper was strongly supportive of local government structures, is it still Government policy to have county, city and town councils, taking into account the recent comments made by the Minister's colleague, the Minister for Transport?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I will answer the last question first. It is our intention to have them. I have always been of the view that we need to have local government at all effective levels.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, is overruled.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Again.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, has a view on all these matters. He has been in this role in the past but I am telling the Deputy what the situation is. In other jurisdictions, particularly on the Continent and in the United States, there is representation at local level, in even the smallest towns. That system operates very effectively but in Germany and elsewhere there is very effective regional government. That is a tier of government that needs to be enhanced in this country to deliver consistency across all local authorities. The Deputy and I have discussed this issue and he knows my thinking on planning matters. He will be aware of issues around zonings and regional planning guidelines in Carlow in his constituency and that various local authorities have different approaches. We have to have consistency.

The Green Paper presents three options and notes that different solutions can apply in different areas. It envisages a metropolitan cross-boundary mayor with a strategic role in delivering with a city-region focus, joint leadership of local authorities through the joint election of a single mayor to chair and represent local authorities and the creation of unitary authorities. The Deputy will also be aware-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I want to allow another supplementary question before the time expires.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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-----that we are moving ahead with the Dublin mayoralty, with elections planned in the summer of 2010. We have to look at the system in London where there is also an assembly to which the mayor is answerable.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Minister got carried away in trying to explain the comments of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey. I am glad he has overruled them and that he is a very strong supporter of local government, unlike the Minister for Transport who often speaks without knowing the source of his information. The Minister spoke about travelling throughout Europe but he should bring the Minister for Transport with him to show him the good work done in bottom-up approaches to local government. Will the Minister tell the House if it is the intention to have regional authority elections in the future, starting with the regional assembly elections in the greater Dublin area next June?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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That will be set out in the White Paper. The Government is considering all matters. As laid out in the programme for Government, we want to strengthen the strategic role and functions of regional authorities in planning, transport, water and waste management. Regional authorities should reflect the gateways in the national spatial strategy. There should also be democratic leadership in order that they can take a critical role in establishing and co-ordinating the new planning regime.