Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan. I know he is very busy. The issue I raise concerns access to information about decision makers in local authorities. All local authorities have websites featuring information on the services they provide. No comprehensive review has been undertaken of the need for local authorities to clearly identify which members of staff are responsible for the various areas of responsibility, for example, housing, roads, development and planning. While websites may feature the names of heads of department, they do not provide information on sub-departments.

The European Commission website provides information on all sections of the various directorates general and the names of all those with responsibility. Providing such information on local authority websites would overcome the problem people face when they try to obtain information on which individual they need to contact about specific issues. We must move with the times, especially given that the Minister has introduced major reform of local government. The abolition of town councils will result in a significant reduction in the number of councillors in many areas. Members of the public need access to information more than ever. I ask that the Department examine this issue and set out a clear agenda for progressing the matter in the coming 12 months. We must not miss the opportunity provided by the current reform of local government to inform members of the public, especially about those who are in charge of various areas. I ask the Minister to address this issue.