Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The enhancement of the role of the elected local authority member has been a fundamental objective of the ongoing local government reform programme. Key features of the programme include the introduction in 2004 of a single electoral mandate for local government to underline the unique role of local government and the distinctive representational role of councillors; the strengthening of the councillor's policy making role through the establishment of the strategic policy committees; the introduction of the corporate policy group, which provides a forum for the committees' chairs and cathaoirligh to consider policy positions affecting the entire council and act as a mini-cabinet for the council; the widening of the councillor's remit through important structures such as the county and city development boards and joint policing committees. This has been underpinned by comprehensive and modernised legislation in the Local Government Act 2001 and constitutional recognition for local government with guaranteed local elections every five years.

The Local Government Act 2001 provides that the elected council is the policy-making arm of the local authority, while that of county and city managers is one of day-to-day management. Elected members are the board of directors of their authorities. Their functions span a range of important matters including the adoption of the annual budget, the development plan and development contribution schemes. The elected council has various oversight powers for the discharge by the manager of his or her duties.

Strategic policy committees have been introduced to local government bringing elected members together with the social partners and other interests to formulate, monitor and review policies across the major functional areas of local authorities. The committees, designed to be a significant resource for councillors in their policy-making functions, complement the work of the corporate policy groups.

Local government's sphere of influence has been widened through its leadership of the county and city development boards. The boards, on which the corporate policy group sits, represent a real attempt at improving the co-ordination of planning and service delivery across the public sector at local level. It is important that elected members on these boards play their leadership role in this regard to the full.

The remit of local government was further extended last year with the establishment of several joint policing committees on a pilot basis. These committees introduced a partnership process involving local elected members, members of An Garda Síochána, and others to collectively consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of local areas.

Senator Jim Walsh raised the important issue of the proper resourcing of councillors to enable them to carry out their duties as public representatives. Councillors must have the necessary support to carry out their responsibilities and to serve their communities. Considerable improvements have been made in this regard and, following the enactment for the Local Government Act 2001, councillors now receive an annual representational payment, linked to the salary of Senators. In addition, a gratuity scheme has also been provided for retiring councillors. The gratuity has recently been substantially increased along with other significant improvements to the councillors' expenses system.

With these tangible supports, a major training and development programme has been under way for some time to facilitate the effective participation of councillors on their councils. The programme has been developed in partnership with and with the active involvement of the three elected member associations.

Taken together, the above steps have substantially strengthened the role of local government and its elected members. The immediate focus is to ensure the benefits of the reform programme continue to feed through in better service delivery to our communities. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will continue to work to intensify and consolidate the gains being made under the programme. Elected members will play their part to the full in this regard.

I am more familiar with the Dublin local authority scene and it might not be typical of other areas. However, after the last local elections as there was a large turnover in new councillors, the corporate experience was lost. There was too much movement and it may take several years for newly elected councillors to find their feet. The legislation can be in place but it is up to councillors to work the system. The red carper cannot be rolled out for them every day. In some instances, councillors are effective in determining policy but others may expect it to be presented with a ribbon.