Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects to publish the Green Paper on local government reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14402/08]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason the Green Paper on local government has not been published, having regard to the commitment given in the programme for the Government that it would be published within six months of the Government coming into office; when it is expected that the Green Paper will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14441/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 113 together.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a Green Paper on Local Government Reform, to examine a number of issues with the objective of making local government more transparent and responsive. I have published the Green Paper, Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change, today. I established a Consultative Committee, which met for the first time in September 2007, to advise me on the production of the Green Paper. The Committee's members included local government interests, Government Departments and others with an interest in local government. The Committee had initially intended to conclude its work by early December 2007. However, given the breadth of the issues involved, the Committee decided to have a further meeting on 20 December to consider its work. Since then I have been engaged with my Department in reviewing the public submissions and the work of the Consultative Committee, and in preparation of the text of the Paper for today's launch.

Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change represents the initial phase of a transparent, inclusive policy formulation process. Its purpose is not to arrive at a single solution, but to present options for further consideration. It is my objective that it should initiate a broad and lively debate on the future of local government, which will inform the preparation of a White Paper later this year.