John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on the functions of town commissioners. [15950/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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One of the objectives of the Local Government Act 2001 was to strengthen current town local government and to provide for linkage and co-operation with the county in the delivery of more integrated and improved service to the public, for both the town and its surrounding areas. The Act modernises the law relating to former town commissioners and provides appropriate powers, flexibility and opportunity for them to engage with local communities in co-operation with county councils, local groups and other agencies. Under the Act a single common legislative code applies to all local authorities and former town commissioners and urban district councils now have the uniform title of town council.

All local authorities exercise a representational role and enjoy broad powers to support the community interest, to make by-laws to deal with matters of local concern and may make a community contribution to support local projects. Town councils are represented on relevant county council area committees. In addition, following the publication in 2004 of the review of the operation of strategic policy committees, SPCs, at county council level, town council representation on SPCs has been interlaced.