Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the arrangements required for the creation for a town council. [12124/07]

Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the last town to be granted town council status and the year of same. [12125/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.

The most recently established town council is Leixlip, in 1988, under the Towns Improvement Ireland Act 1854. The 1854 Act has since been repealed.

Part 17 of the Local Government Act 2001, not yet commenced, 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, and the timing of any such proposal, is a matter for the local community in the first instance, with a decision on such a proposal being a reserved function of the relevant county council, following a public consultation process.

I am continuing to keep the commencement of the relevant sections of the 2001 Act under review, while consolidating progress on quality customer service measures, with the aim of ensuring good accessible local government service delivery for all towns.