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

I apologise for getting caught in traffic around Naas. I thank Senator Byrne for raising the issue. I would also like to thank her for her support and very active campaign in the recent plebiscite for the directly elected mayor in Limerick city and county. I have no doubt that her support and that of civil society in Limerick were instrumental in the positive vote there, as was the support of other politicians.

Most importantly, I want to thank the people of Limerick city and county for backing the Government’s proposal and opting for a radical leap forward in local government. This is a very exciting time in the history of local government in Limerick. It fits in with what has been a decade of renewal in Limerick city in particular, but also in the merged authority that is Limerick City and County Council.

The Government has been given a mandate by the people of Limerick to put in place the first directly elected mayor with executive functions. As Senator Byrne has said, Limerick will be the flagship for the country. I want to assure the people of Limerick that the Government plans to maximise this incredible opportunity to boost local government there.

In line with the legislation, I will now prepare and submit to the Houses of the Oireachtas a report with proposals for legislation providing for a directly elected mayor for Limerick. The legislative proposals must be submitted by 24 May 2021, two years after the vote, but I have asked my officials to prioritise this work. I want to bring the report and legislation forward as early as possible next year rather than in 2021.We have a good basis for the legislation in the Government's policy paper and will take on board the feedback received during campaigns such as the one referred to by the Senator on transport, the environment and business. Some of the functions are already performed within the local authorities. I am thinking, in particular, of the LEOs and environment sections of the local authorities, but transport is certainly one issue that is topical and important at local level. We will consult stakeholders in Limerick and across the local government system.

The process will also involve a review of legislation underpinning the functions of local authorities and engagement across all Departments. With the establishment of the position of directly elected mayor comes an incredible opportunity for further ambitious local government modernisation. The directly elected mayor and the elected council must have scope and the capacity to create a vision for the future of Limerick and be empowered to take responsibility for delivering on that vision through having real budgetary and functional clout across as wide a range of areas as possible.

It is important to point out, as outlined in the Government's policy proposals, that the chief executive will still hold a critical role. The success of the directly elected mayor will crucially be dependent on a strong, committed and passionate chief executive and an effective mayor-chief executive working relationship to deliver on the vision and programme of the council and the mayor. Limerick City and County Council is very lucky to have an energetic and passionate chief executive in Conn Murray. I recognise the extraordinary work he has done in recent years, not least in leading the very successful merger of the two local authorities in the city and the county and developing the hugely ambitious Limerick 2030 programme. In terms of timelines and in the expectation the legislation will be prioritised in the Houses, the first election could take place to Limerick City and County Council in 2022 or beforehand.

I again thank the Senator for raising this important matter and her work on it, with that of others heretofore, as well as the officials in the Department who have been very active in promoting the idea of having directly elected mayors with executive functions.