Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will issue regulations under the Local Government Act 2001 to allow by order the establishment of new town councils in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20501/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Part 17 of the Local Government Act 2001 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. Under the relevant provisions of the Act, a proposal to establish a town council is a matter for the local community in the first instance. Thereafter a decision on such a proposal is a reserved function of the relevant county council, following a public consultation process.

Following these local steps, the proposal must then be submitted to the Local Government Commission for preparation of a report and recommendations to the Minister. I am considering the steps necessary to commence the relevant provisions of the 2001 Act, including the establishment of the Local Government Commission, and will be pursuing consultations with local government interests in this regard.