Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the changes he is considering to reduce the cost of providing local government services and administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42844/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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It is a matter for each local authority to manage its own budget and prioritise its spending, within the resources available to it, across the range of services it provides.

Local authorities are not immune to the effects of the downturn in the wider economy. There are pressures on resources at all levels. Therefore local authorities must introduce efficiencies where possible, prioritise their expenditure to focus on essential services, and maximise the use of all resources available to them.

As part of the Transforming Public Services (TPS) initiative, my Department and the local government sector are working closely together to advance initiatives for a more integrated public service which will achieve better value for money and enhanced customer service. In this context, the local government sector is focusing in particular on the promotion of shared services, procurement and e-government.

Considerable work has already taken place across local government in these areas. For example, the merger of the Local Government Management Services Board (LGMSB) and the Local Government Computer Services Board (LGCSB) is well advanced and will provide a significant platform for expanding shared services delivery in local government. A HR system has also been developed on a shared basis and is extended to 27 local authorities. A shared service facility in relation to the collection of the €200 charge on non principal private residences has also been introduced, with around 80% of payments in respect of this charge being made online.

While the local government sector will now be working with the newly-established National Public Procurement Operations Unit (NPPOU) to maximise efficiencies in procurement, local authorities have also undertaken significant work to promote greater efficiency in the area of procurement. An online annual quotation solution (www.laquotes.ie) for local authorities has been established, which accepts quotations from suppliers for a range of goods and services. In addition, on a regional level, local authorities are combining to procure and purchase services. Further work will be undertaken to increase aggregated purchasing as a means of achieving volume savings across the sector on a range of supplies and products.

E-government has been an important focus of attention in the local government sector to date and the emphasis now is on building on early initiatives, such as online payment services (e.g. parking fines, bin tags and housing rents), online motor tax and online access to planning application documents, to ensure optimal ease of access and efficiency for the public. Extending these initiatives to other local authorities and new areas will be important.

I also intend to advance the White Paper on Local Government later this year following, in particular, Government consideration of local government financing in light of the Report of the Commission on Taxation and the commitments included in the renewed Programme for Government.