Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the commitment by his predecessor during the passage of legislation to abolish the dual mandate to the effect that Houses of the Oireachtas Members would be granted the same access to local authorities as they had previously; if he is satisfied that this is happening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36332/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Regulations made under the Local Government Act 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations 2003 established requirements for local authorities to ensure that information regarding local authority activities is provided to members of the Oireachtas. These include: the local authority budget, draft development plan etc. It is a matter for each local authority to deal with requests for access to information by a parliamentary representative as expeditiously as possible and in accordance with a proper level of customer service. In this regard local authorities are required to put in place arrangements to ensure that systems, procedures and time frames equivalent to those used by them in relation to correspondence from local authority members also apply in respect of parliamentary representatives.

My Department has gathered information from local authorities on a periodic basis, most recently in March 2009, on the practical application of the arrangements established by the above Regulations. Based on the information received, I understand that local authorities are generally complying with these arrangements. However, I will continue to monitor their operation.