Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 668: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he is willing to put in place in order to empower local municipal authorities with more representative powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6593/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Government Act 2001 is 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, through for example, membership of strategic policy committees; provide local amenities and raise a local community contribution; make local by-laws and have statutory input to the local development plan process under the planning code.

Certain town councils, other than former town commissioners, are under the relevant statutory service codes responsible for certain mainline functions in housing and roads. 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.