Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to reform local government making it more transparent and more responsive to its customers. [20323/08]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to review the operation of local government legislation to ensure that the decision making processes in local authorities are rebalanced in favour of the democratically elected representatives of the people. [20328/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 267 together.

I published the Green Paper, Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change on 22 April 2008. The Green Paper presents a set of options which share a common theme of strengthening local democratic leadership. For example, Stronger Local Democracy proposes a Regional Mayor for Dublin to meet the strategic challenges the city faces. The Paper also contends that local leadership, accountability and connection with the citizen can be achieved through the provision of directly elected mayors for all counties and cities with key powers of initiative. Copies of Stronger Local Democracy have been sent to all members of the Oireachtas. Stronger Local Democracy represents the initial phase of a transparent, inclusive policy formulation process. The purpose is not to arrive at a single solution, but to present options for further consideration.

My Department is now embarking on a public consultation process to inform the drafting of the White Paper which I hope to finalise by year end. I look forward to receiving the views of all concerned. Details of how to contribute to the consultation process are available on my Department's website. I will also be holding a number of regional seminars in the coming weeks to gather as full a range of perspectives as possible.