Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It has been a very informed debate. I wish to respond to the points raised. I propose to give a general overview and then go through the specific points. I thank Members for their incisive and progressive contributions.

Some of my points will touch on items raised. In April, Ireland welcomed a monitoring mission from the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, which Senator Keogan referenced. The congress delegation was here to carry out an adherence review. The charter commits signatory parties to applying basic rules guaranteeing the political, administrative and financial independence of local authorities. It lays down standards for protecting the rights of local authorities and requires states that have ratified it to comply with a number of principles. This was the first monitoring visit since 2013. My officials and I met the delegation. Its findings and recommendations are expected to be published at the plenary meeting of the congress this October. The report will likely acknowledge that there have been certain improvements since the last monitoring report, particularly as a result of the local government reforms of 2014. They will likely be critical of their perception of the centralised nature of Ireland’s system of government and constraints imposed on its financial and operational autonomy, as well as the extensive supervision of local government by central government, among other matters. The independence of local government and the vital role of local authority elected members need to be protected and defended. I believe that helping to build a broader understanding of local government and the role of local authority members in shaping the communities in which we live and overseeing the performance of our local authorities is important, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 local elections. I informed the congress delegation that the reform of Ireland’s local government system is and has been a process of evolution.

The next most significant phase of that evolution is publication very shortly of a Bill providing for a directly elected mayor for Limerick. My role is to bring the legislation to the Cabinet and I want legislation that is fit for purpose. Senator Gavan and I know each other reasonably well, so he will appreciate that it is important to me that we get legislation that enhances local government in Limerick but, more particularly, provides for a directly elected mayor. Along with my officials, we have done a considerable body of work to enhance those powers. I have to bring the published Bill to the Cabinet to get its approval. It will then determine the date, but the election will happen. It is something I feel strongly about, like Senator Gavan does. People in Limerick voted. They are entitled to have the election held and it will be held. I want to ensure we have a body of legislation that not only enhances the role overall of local authority in Limerick, more particularly, a directly elected mayor, but ensures that we respect the role of the democratically elected councillors as well. It is finding that balance and it will happen. I will be bringing it to the Cabinet very shortly.

I will now go through the points that individual Members raised and I will deal with what seem to be the core points. Senator Paddy Burke spoke about the effectiveness of local government. There is a new code of corporate governance for local authorities, which is across Government Departments. My Department currently has a working group. We are looking to bring that out for local authorities. People are aware of the National Oversight and Audit Commission. We are looking to give it a further role in the new local government audit service.

I am keen, and it is one of my remits, to go around to local authorities and see how they are performing. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that people working throughout local government and throughout the public sector are doing their best. Can we assist in enhancing what they do? That is the question. Like every walk of life, there will be some people who are excellent and some maybe not so, however, all with a common purpose. I believe strongly that they are all doing their level best.Senator Burke make reference to the development plan, as did almost all contributors. The Office of the Planning Regulator means there is a new role. Training is available for councillors but I will take on board what has been said. We need to see whether we can come up with a process whereby councillors are fully informed of their role, what they can do and what powers they have. Certain items have changed. One of the areas mentioned was variation to an existing plan. The relationship between the planning regulator, Mr. Cussen, and the Department is something I will certainly look at.

Senator Keogan referred to a number of areas. With regard to Part 8, we have to bring in emergency housing measures. We all accept there is a crisis in housing. Part 8 introduced a suspension for a period of time up to December 2024. It was brought in specifically with regard to funding provided to local authorities to reduce debt on sites whereby they would proceed to build on these sites with social and affordable housing. It is a mechanism to expedite matters in terms of building houses but it is only a temporary measure. It is something I feel strongly about. It would then need to revert to the local authorities. Part 8 is a huge feature for local authorities.

I am sorry there was no mention of councillors in the town centres first policy. It is something we can look at again. I have already dealt with the issues of the congress of local authorities and directly elected mayors.

With regard to the gratuity scheme, the officials are carrying out a review. I gave a commitment to the AILG and LAMA that I would do so but I want to do it in a structured way. We want to look at the scheme, see how it works and get down to the nuts and bolts. Any work that we do should be very much based on looking at the existing scheme.

Senator Keogan's points on the gratuity were well made. It is not just about the training allowance. The county development plans and local area plans are becoming a key feature with local authorities. People have made reference to powers. The structure at present is that we have the national planning framework alongside the national development plan. This feeds down to the regional authorities, which feed down into the county development plans, which feed down into local area plans. We are looking for consistency.

We are carrying out a review of the national planning framework. Senator Casey made reference to it. One of the key elements we are putting into it is housing and looking at it in the context of the national planning framework. We want an approach whereby what we are looking at nationally marries locally. It is something that I take on board.

Senator Casey made a number of points. He and Senator Cummins spoke about the local property tax. I take the point about aligning the budgetary process of local authorities with the local property tax. It is something I will follow up on and look at. Senator Casey also made reference to Irish Water and rural schemes. As people are aware, Irish Water taps into existing structures. If there is no existing structure, it is up to the local authorities. We put the funding through the local authorities. There is an announcement coming on this. The baseline review is under way. It is being finalised. I take on board the views of Members.

Deputy Casey also spoke about national planning and regional authorities. We are about to announce rural planning guidelines. He made reference to these being people's homes. I take this on board. We are trying to find a balance between good planning and a reflection of the human dimension. There should be consistency among local authorities in preplanning. Often it comes down to who is in the position and the view taken by the executive. It should be consistent. If we want a streamlined approach to this, people should be able to get access to preplanning in a reasonable fashion. We should not have inconsistencies. It is something I will take up with the local authorities.

Senator Garvey, who is no longer present, spoke about County Clare. There is an affordable serviced sites scheme. We want local authorities to develop serviced sites in rural village settings at a discount of up to €30,000 on the site below the market value. Many local authorities are slow to roll this out. I want to see them being proactive. It is something that is there.

Senator Garvey also spoke about the delivery of affordable purchase housing. This falls within the remit of the local authorities. It is not only the Land Development Agency. There is a local authority affordable purchase scheme.

If we look at affordable housing, and I would regard starter homes as a better way of looking at it, we can get it through with the first home scheme. These can be in any private estate so long as a house can be sold at below a certain price for a certain location. It qualifies for up to 20% of discount along with the 10% help to buy. Equally, the local authorities can build schemes where, depending on the density, they can give a discount of up to €100,000 per unit. We want to see the local authorities moving to do that. Affordable cost rental is not the preserve of approved housing bodies. We want to the local authorities going into this area.

I am answering your questions, Senator Garvey.