Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position on the provision in the Local Government Act 2000 to establish town councils and plans to enact this provision; the steps towns can take at present if they wish to establish a town council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12593/08]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 13 March 2008, if in his considered judgment new town councils will be elected in Maynooth and Celbridge in County Kildare in the course of the June 2009 local authority elections. [12652/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together.

In accordance with the Programme for Government, my Department will shortly be publishing the Green Paper on local government, which 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 will include the establishment of town councils in those towns that have shown significant population growth in recent years. The White Paper will address the timing of any new reforms.

The provisions for the establishment of new town councils are contained in Part 17 of the Local Government Act 2001. However, these provisions have not been commenced and in these circumstances formal moves to establish a new town council cannot proceed. I will give consideration to those parts of the 2001 Act which have not yet been commenced as part of the reform process.