Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 572: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the undertaking given during the course of the passage of the abolition of the dual mandate to the effect that all relevant information appertaining to expenditure on infrastructure by the local authorities would be readily available through the medium of parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7736/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Issues in relation to Parliamentary Questions are matters for the House. I am not aware of such an undertaking having been given in the terms claimed in the Question.

Statutory based arrangements for the supply of specified information to Oireachtas members were established under the Local Government Act 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations 2003. As I have stated on previous occasions, I expect local authorities to provide members of the Oireachtas with access to information in accordance with both the spirit and letter of these regulations.

The Deputy will be aware my Department has gathered information from local authorities on the practical application of the arrangements established by the above Regulations. Based on the information received, I understand that local authorities are, for the most part, complying with these arrangements. I am continuing to review this matter in the light of concerns raised by members of the Oireachtas regarding the service they receive in relation to these matters from certain local authorities and, if necessary, will issue supplementary guidance to local authorities reminding them of the need to provide a reasonable level of service for Oireachtas members and facilitate them in carrying out their work on behalf of local communities.