Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps needed to the taken by a town to achieve the status of town council under the Local Government Acts. [6673/05]

Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the stage the application by Ballincollig, County Cork, for the status of town council under the Local Government Acts is at; and when the process will be completed. [6674/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together.

Section 185 of Part 17 of the Local Government Act 2001 sets out the steps involved in setting up a new town council. In summary, section 185 provides that qualified electors of a town having a population of at least 7,500 as ascertained at the last preceding census and not having a town council may make a proposal for the establishment of such a council. Thereafter, a decision on such a proposal is a reserved function of the relevant county council, following a public consultation process.

The proposal must then be submitted to the Local Government Commission for preparation of a report and recommendations to the Minister. Where the Local Government Commission recommends the establishment of a town council the Minister may, by order, provide for the establishment of the town council. The establishment of a Local Government Commission to enable the commencement of Part 17 is currently under consideration.

Local government services in the Ballincollig area are provided by Cork County Council and my Department has not been contacted regarding any current plans by the local community to develop a proposal for the establishment of a town council.