Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter and I am pleased to have the opportunity to provide some policy context and detail in relation to the legislative provisions proposed regarding matters such as these. The issue of local government reform at sub-county level was raised on the Adjournment in the House last month, and while I do not propose to revisit the contributions of Senator Ó Domhnaill or the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, from that occasion, I will make a few comments on the broader policy context of the specific issue raised.

The Government's action programme for effective local government, published in October 2012, sets out the Government decision for a range of measures to reform and strengthen local government structures, functions, funding, governance and operational arrangements. Chapter 6 of the action programme sets out policy decisions to replace town councils with a new comprehensive model of municipal governance, based around principal towns and designed to strengthen local government within counties and to address weaknesses and anomalies in the current system. Without question, this is a radical departure, and the decision to change fundamentally our approach to local government arrangements within counties was not taken lightly.

There has been a considerable element of history, heritage and civic status associated with town authorities, but these strengths cannot hide the fact that the existing system of town local government contains glaring weaknesses, including limited functions, outdated boundaries, duplication of administration and insufficient scale to maximise efficiency or support expertise or resources to carry out a range of complex functions.

The new model of municipal governance will address these and other limitations. Equally, there is no reason the strengths and qualities associated with many town councils cannot be extended beyond the town walls, as it were, to embrace the wider hinterland of towns which are linked to them for a range of social, commercial, educational, employment and other purposes. Municipal districts will cover the entire territory of each county, reflecting European norms, removing outdated boundaries and ending the anomaly of small towns having municipal status and dual representation, while some larger centres and rural areas lack any sub-county governance. The performance of different functions by members at county and district levels will result in greater effectiveness than the current parallel town and county system. The division of functions between county and district levels will be determined on the basis of what is most relevant to each level. Local matters will be dealt with at municipal district level, while those of wider strategic application will be decided at county level.

Invariably during any period of change, specific instances will arise that have to be managed as part of the change process, and I am aware of the lands around the Spire of Lloyd in Kells, County Meath, and the importance attached to them locally as a recreational asset. The status of such assets under the Local Government Bill 2013, which I published recently, and following implementation of the structural reform measures, is clear. In accordance with section 24(2) of the Bill, the local authority for a county will become the successor authority for all purposes where a town council is dissolved. In addition, consequential on the dissolution of town councils, there are extensive provisions in Schedule 4 to the Bill which will apply from the date of dissolution in respect of a range of matters. Paragraph 2 of Schedule 4 deals with the transfer of assets from a dissolved authority to a successor authority and provides, inter alia, that all assets which were vested in or belonged to an authority to be dissolved will from the relevant day or date be transferred to the successor authority.

The bottom line is that these lands will continue to be an amenity available to and enjoyed by the people of Kells and of the wider hinterland. After mid-2014, operational responsibility for the land will rest with Meath County Council, but stewardship will rest in the first instance with the elected members for the Kells municipal district who, under the new legislation, will have a strong portfolio of reserved functions to be performed in that district - much stronger than county councillors currently have at area level - including functions in respect of budgetary procedures and decisions on programmes of works within the district.

To conclude, I will refer back briefly to the overall local government reform programme by reminding Members that the core purpose of the programme is to put local government in a position to deliver better services, amenities and governance to their communities by strengthening the structures, finances and operations generally of the system. In the context of future governance arrangements within counties, the principle of strength through unity will be a key factor in ensuring that these objectives are delivered to the benefit of all communities, urban and rural.