David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to section 3 of the Local Government (No. 2) Act 2003, if he has made regulations under subsection (3) of this section relating to the members of the Houses of the Oireachtas; if the regulations apply to all local authorities in the State; the specified documentation or other specified information mentioned in sections 3(3)([i]b[/i])([i]c[/i])([i]d[/i]) and ([i]e[/i]); if he is satisfied that the regulations are being implemented in full and in a manner that keeps members of the Houses of the Oireachtas fully informed; his plans to make regulations to assist further the Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas under this section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17829/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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From the commencement of the single mandate for elective local government, local authorities were required to make specific arrangements to provide a reasonable level of service for Members of the Oireachtas and to facilitate them in carrying out their work on behalf of local communities. The statutory regulations which have been made in this regard have been in operation since 1 August 2003. Copies of the regulations, known as the Local Government Act 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations 2003, are available in the Oireachtas Library, along with an information note.

The regulations, which apply to all local authorities, provide inter alia for the supply by the local authority of specified documentation, such as the local authority budget and the draft development plan, to Members of the Oireachtas. Equivalent systems, procedures and timeframes to those used in respect of correspondence from members of local authorities also apply in respect of Members of the Oireachtas. Managers are required to meet local Members of the Oireachtas at least once a year and thus provide an opportunity for an update on developments and for any difficulties encountered to be raised and addressed. That is in addition to normal and regular contact between public representatives and local authority officials about particular problems or issues.

Apart from the regulations in this area, I expect that issues relating to the operation of the arrangements will be resolved as local authorities and Members of the Oireachtas become more familiar with the process. I intend to contact local authorities this year to obtain information on the practical application of the scheme to date. Arising from this, I will issue supplementary guidance to local authorities, if necessary. I am concerned that local authorities should at all times facilitate parliamentary representatives, in both the spirit and the letter of the regulations, by providing local authority documentation in a timely manner.