Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I apologise that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, cannot take this Adjournment matter. As Members are aware the Government's action programme for effective local government published in October 2012 sets out Government policy in this area.

It is recognised that towns have a strong affinity with the ceremonial title of mayor. The Government is also strongly of the view, however, that there is a need to protect and enhance the status of the title of mayor. In this context, it is the Government's view that, for example, the extension of the mayoral title to counties is not appropriate and does not conform to general, though not I concede universal, practice internationally, whereby the title of mayor applies mainly to certain urban areas. Accordingly, the Government decided, in the context of the action programme for effective local government, to reserve the title to cities and municipal towns containing former borough councils or towns with a population of at least 20,000 people. Local authorities accorded specific status under current legislation, such as borough councils and cities, will retain the option of using the title of mayor. This decision is reflected in the provisions contained in the Local Government Bill 2013, which is currently on Second Stage in the Dáil.

The Bill provides that the default position is for the chair of the local authority or municipal district to be titled "Cathaoirleach", with the option for the elected members to adopt the title of mayor in the case of cities, the merging city and county authorities in Limerick and Waterford and municipal districts containing former boroughs or towns of 20,000 or more population. I am satisfied that the Bill's provisions reflect appropriately the status and relevant application of the mayoral title. The population threshold of 20,000 is reasonable and reflects no downgrading of towns such as Killarney, but rather the need to enhance the status of the mayoral title by confining its application to districts containing large centres of population. If the Minister was here, he would mention international experience in this area and the Government's new agenda, in terms of rationalising local authorities as a means of enhancing local government and ensuring we get stronger local government in the future by making it more streamlined and effective.