Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising what is an important issue. He articulated it in terms that I can understand. When he started referencing Kildare and municipal districts, I could see the benefit of municipal districts and how they have worked well to streamline the decision-making process, so I can understand his frustration.

On behalf of my colleagues, the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, I wish to provide an update on the issue to the House. Unfortunately, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, is unavailable to take this commencement matter. The system of municipal districts for sub-county decision-making was introduced, as the Senator knows, in the Local Government Reform Act. These reforms provided for the dissolution of 80 town councils and the establishment of 95 municipal districts. This was intended to address anomalies of the previous town council system, such as the lack of sub-county governance in rural areas and in larger towns without town council status. Municipal districts were also designed to improve integration between towns and hinterlands. Municipal districts were not introduced in the four Dublin local authorities or for Cork or Galway city councils, because the new system replaced town councils and aimed to extend sub-county governance to rural areas.

Introducing this system in urban local authorities would represent an additional element of local administration at variance with the aim of rationalisation and efficiency underpinning the reform programme. Instead, local area committees operate in a similar manner to municipal districts, notwithstanding the points the Senator raised regarding the difference between both of them.

I am informed that extensive consultation on municipal districts and area committees took place with the local government sector throughout 2021 and into 2022. From this process, a circular on best practice on the operation of municipal districts issued to local authorities at the end of 2022. It makes recommendations on the performance of reserved functions; modes of delivering services to the public and greater highlighting of these; promoting economic, social and cultural regeneration; development of their rural towns and hinterlands; enhanced training and development opportunities for members; and logistical arrangements to allow for the smooth operation of municipal districts.

A survey of elected members and local authority executives sought views on the operation of area committees and was followed by a series of workshops with elected members, officials and representative bodies to get more in-depth feedback. Further engagement will follow to progress matters raised and examine options to further enhance local government. The programme for Government established a citizens’ assembly to consider a directly elected mayor for Dublin, as the Senator will be aware. The assembly reported last month. Once considered by Government, the report will be passed to the Oireachtas and will be further considered by a joint Oireachtas committee, which will provide views to the Houses for debate. I understand that detailed consideration of the report has commenced within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Finally, the forthcoming local government (directly elected mayor) Bill 2023 will, inter alia, provide for the holding of plebiscites for a directly elected mayor of the administrative area of any local authority. Each of these processes could have a fundamental impact on the structures of local government and would, therefore, inform any future changes in respect of area committees or municipal districts, which would have to be considered.