Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he plans to increase the powers available to former town commissioners; if so, the criteria he intends using; the timeframe he is working to; and the power he envisages for towns currently seeking town council status. [23149/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Government Act 2001 has been designed to provide a modern legislative framework for all local authorities. Under the Act all town councils, including former town commissioners, may take action to promote the community interest; exercise a representational role, with an office of mayor and structured linkage to the county council; provide local amenities and raise a local community contribution; make local bye laws and have statutory input to the local development plan process under the planning code. Under section 185 of the 2001 Act, which sets out the provisions for the establishment of new town councils, the powers of such town councils would correspond to those of former town commissioners.

Certain town councils, other than former town commissioners, are under the relevant statutory service codes responsible for certain mainline functions in the housing, roads and sanitary services areas. The Oireachtas in its comprehensive review and restatement of local government legislative powers in recent years did not extend responsibility for such mainline functions to additional town councils and legislation would be required to amend this position. I will keep the position generally under review in the ongoing local government modernisation programme with the aim of ensuring good accessible service delivery at town and county level.