Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for devolution of authority to local authorities; the scale of such devolution; the timescale envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47185/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Green Paper on Local Government, Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change, which I published in April 2008, discusses the role of local government within Ireland's political and governmental system. It acknowledges the opportunity for national government to devolve functions which can be delivered at local level, but that local government needs to be strengthened if it is to take on greater responsibility.

The conclusions of the OECD's recent Review of Public Management in Ireland, and the subsequent Report of the Task Force on the Public Service are also of relevance to the balance of functions between central and local government. The Report of the Task Force in particular recommends that local government structures should be drawn upon to enhance public service delivery, particularly through leadership at local level of shared services, case-based approaches and integrated responses. The Government's proposals in relation to the strengthening of local government will be set out in the White Paper on local government which I am currently finalising. These proposals will be taken forward in parallel with the overall proposals for public sector reform set out in the recent Government statement on Transforming Public Services and the above-mentioned Report of the Task Force on the Public Service.