Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason provision will not be made for a directly elected mayor with executive powers for Dublin until 2011; if it is intended to have an election for this position in 2011 or if it will have to await the next scheduled local elections which would not be until 2014; if it would be more logical and convenient to have this election with the local elections in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22805/07]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the Government's plans for directly elected mayors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22735/07]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the Green Paper on Local Government Reform will be published; if the deadline given in the Programme for Government of 14 December 2007 will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22806/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 128 and 147 together.

In accordance with the Programme for Government, my Department will be publishing a Green Paper on local government reform in the coming months. The Green Paper will examine a number of issues with the objective of making local government more transparent and responsive, and will set out options for reform in advance of a subsequent White Paper. Issues to be considered in the Green Paper include:

Ensuring a proper balance of power at local levels between the manager and the elected representatives;

The issue of directly elected Mayors/ Chairs;

The establishment of town councils in those towns that have shown significant population growth in recent years, including the upgrading of the former Town Commission towns, where appropriate to full Town Councils; and,

The provision of quality customer service to the public.Work on the Green Paper should be finalised by the end of the year, with a White Paper to follow next year.

The Government's programme states that a directly elected Mayor for Dublin with executive powers will by introduced by 2011. The remit of an elected Mayor for Dublin and all other practical matters involved in establishing such an office will be given consideration as a part of the reform process outlined above.