Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans to enhance the powers of town councils, in particular towns that were former town commissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15631/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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A range of work relevant to local government reform is under way or in planning arising from the report of the local government efficiency review group and I am reviewing the next immediate steps to augment this undertaking. I will also be considering wider proposals to renew and develop the local government system in line with the Government's programme and building on relevant research and analysis already undertaken in this area.

Key objectives under the Government programme include devolution of greater decision-making to local level, strengthening the powers and functions of local authorities, enhancing the development and leadership role of local government and strengthening its structures and funding arrangements. I intend bringing proposals to Government later this year to take forward the proposals in the programme to strengthen the local government system and improve its capacity to meet current and future challenges and to make a substantial contribution to the national recovery effort. In this context, the powers of town councils and their future within that system will be considered.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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The specific question I am asking here is about town councils. As a former town councillor, I have an interest in this. My concern is that the town council of a town such as Mullingar - with which the Minister's colleague, Deputy Penrose, will be familiar - which has a population of 25,000, has town commission status and no rating powers, and the greater Portlaoise area has a population of 18,000; yet a town such as Templemore, with a population of 2,700 or 2,800, has a rating authority. I ask the Minister to consider this in the context of local government reform.

In addition, if the Minister intends to do away with quangos, particularly at local level, I ask him to investigate possible fits between their roles and those of town councils. Is it part of his thinking that the roles of such quangos will be brought under the remit of town councils? Town councils are democratically elected and they could be used to administer some of those programmes. Is it the Minister's intention to enhance the powers of town councils specifically? I heard him say that he intends to devolve more powers to local authorities. In a general way, I welcome that, as would my party. However, my specific question is whether the Minister intends to improve the powers and functions of town councils, particularly former town commissions.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My general principle is to ensure that as much power as possible is devolved from central to local government, and obviously town councils have an important role, as they are the closest body to the citizens in urban areas. County councils also have a role and are close to citizens. However, there is some duplication. In the context of the proposals we will introduce in the autumn, we will be examining how to define the role of each type of authority. I do not expect to abolish town councils. I do not have plans to abolish the town councils of Portlaoise and Mullingar, or I would be in desperate trouble. I do believe there are roles, responsibilities and structures that are commensurate with the times we are in, and that councils can deliver services to the citizen in a cost-effective way. In addition, they must have the capacity to implement some of the devolved functions that will be given to them.