Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take this matter. I greatly appreciate it, as I am aware that she was under some time constraint to get here this morning.

In October 2012, the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, published a document entitled Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government. That document, numbering more than 198 pages, set out a mechanism for changing local government across this country. It was discussed by the various councillor associations and interested bodies and it came into play following the 2014 local elections.

The document set out how to change local government through full implementation of local government at a local level to maximise representational effectiveness and to improve structures, functions, resources, operational arrangements and governance. It also aims to enhance the role of the elected member in the areas of economic development and enterprise support. It sets as a target the devolution of powers from the centre. It also provided for the abolition of town councils, a provision with which I greatly disagreed. It provided functions for councillors in the areas of the environment, water, foreshore licensing, local development, food safety and housing, and provided for the setting up of new municipal district areas. It proposed the amalgamation of various local authorities, such as the two authorities in Waterford - the area of my colleague, Senator Cummins - which became one authority, and the two authorities in Tipperary and Limerick, which also became one authority.

A year on from the implementation phase of that document, I have found that councillors and councillor associations have raised many issues with me. Furthermore, anywhere I go, be it to a match or a funeral, a councillor will raise an issue related to the changes that have been implemented. I ask that Putting People First be reviewed now that its provisions have been in operation for a year.

I will give a flavour of the issues that have been raised with me. One issue is that of the general municipal allocation, under which each municipal area gets an allocation of money for spending on projects, in which it has discretion. It seems the executive, rather than the councillors, is deciding where that allocation is spent. That is a significant issue, particularly for councillors in Limerick who have contacted me about it and who are very exercised about it. They say that section 2.1 of Putting People First is purposely being misinterpreted. That is a very serious matter.

The use of motions to discuss issues that are outside the realm of the council is becoming a bugbear for councillors. Issues to do with the other side of the world are being discussed, but it seems the local issues that need to be resolved are not being taken up. The non-attendance of relevant executive staff at meetings is also an issue. Of particular concern was the division of Kilkenny city into two electoral areas, and the Minister of State, who comes from that county, will know about the issue. A number of councillors have contacted me to say that the new division is not working. It is not feasible. Instead of bringing local autonomy to people, it is claimed that Putting People First is taking it away from people and taking powers from local councillors and into the executive.

The review I seek should examine the terms and conditions of employment of councillors vis-à-vistheir ability to carry out their work on the salary they are getting. It should examine the change in terms of geographical areas. Electoral areas in Cork and other counties can span a distance of 100 miles. A councillor is expected to carry out his or her functions under the old system of remuneration. Another issue is the time councillors are expected to put in and the distance they are expected to travel.

The road budget allocation system is not being implemented in line with what is provided for in the document. There is also the issue of pay related social insurance, which I have raised with the Minister of State, Deputy Humphreys, on several occasions, and on which we are doing some work.

If a review is carried out - I sincerely hope it will be, and I am getting good vibes about that - it will need to include the input of members of local authorities, their representative associations and the spokespersons on local government in the Dáil and Seanad. Such a review would require a clear set of terms of reference and a timescale.We also need to see the inclusion of practitioners of local government in the review group. I hope the Minister of State has good news on this and that it can happen. Putting People First is a broad document, setting out a lot of aims and objectives. After one year, we need to analyse what has happened, what was good and bad, how we can improve and how councillors can have an opportunity to have an input. They are the people who elected me, Senator Cummins and many others. It is our duty to answer to them on issues of concern to them.

I tabled this Commencement Matter so that we can liaise and communicate with them. I hope the Minister of State will be able to announce a review today, if possible, and, if not, that she can indicate when it will happen.