John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a good opportunity to outline the current position with regard to councillors' pay and conditions. I thank Senators Davitt and Gallagher for raising it. I think Senator Davitt was a little melodramatic in calling the Department the Department of broken promises. A commitment was given and it is still intended that it would be honoured. There was a time not that long ago when the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, as it is now called, would be able to make the decision itself, but now it requires joint approval with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. That is where the issue rests at the moment. In terms of dates and times, it is my intention that it would be finalised before Hallowe'en and that it will be backdated to when it was originally due to be implemented.

The Senators are correct in terms of councillors leaving office. I have come across it myself. It is occurring much more regularly in recent years. The major contributor is the workload involved while trying to continue with a full-time job or rearing a family. These are huge issues. I recently met Women for Election with a view to looking at some of the examples that were mentioned, and I also met some councillors in my constituency. Senator Davitt mentioned the retirement of Councillor Anne Ahern in Carlow, who received a significant promotion. I am not sure she would have been able to continue anyway. However, I acknowledge her work in Carlow County Council over many years. She was a very effective councillor.

Senator Gallagher raised the anomaly between city councillors and county councillors. It is proposed that the city councillors will get the same increase as county councillors.

Effective local government structures are an essential part of our democracy. I was a child councillor myself 20 years ago. In turn, effective local government cannot be achieved without the heard work and commitment of elected members in service of their communities. A range of financial supports are in place to assist councillors in their work. These include the representational payment, fixed annual expenses, a travel and subsistence allowance, a mobile phone allowance, a retirement gratuity and conference and training provision. A Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to review the supports provided to councillors in consultation with representative bodies. The former Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, met representatives of the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authority Members Association to discuss the view of their members that positive consideration should be given to improving the range of supports available.

In January this year, taking account of the considerable additional workload councillors have experienced since 2014 and the reforms of local government, the former Minister announced two important changes to support councillors in their role as public representatives. First, a new allowance of €1,000 per annum is to be introduced in recognition of the work councillors undertake in carrying out their reserved functions at municipal district level, and second, a new vouched annual expenses allowance of up to a maximum of €5,000 is to be introduced, which councillors may choose to opt for in place of the existing unvouched rate of approximately €2,500. It is proposed that the allowable expenditure categories and documentation requirements of this new vouched system would be aligned, as appropriate, with the arrangements in place for Oireachtas Members. While it was intended that these new measures would be implemented with effect from 1 July, the Association of Irish Local Government requested that further consideration be given to the terms and conditions that would apply. I subsequently met a delegation from the AILG shortly after I assumed office myself to understand its views on the matter. A particular concern raised, which I acknowledged, was to ensure appropriate recognition of the workload of all councillors at sub-county level throughout the country.

As Senators will appreciate, the introduction of measures of this kind requires the amendment of regulations made under section 142 of the Local Government Act 2001, which requires the consent of the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform. Draft amending regulations have been prepared and are under consideration between the two Departments. While the matter is taking longer than intended, it is important that the measures are implemented from the outset in a manner that is fair to all councillors.

I thank the Senators for raising this matter and ask for their continued patience while procedural matters associated with the measures outlined are finalised. I reiterate the intention that this will be resolved before Hallowe'en.