Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will bring forward legislation for a directly elected mayor for Dublin; the powers this position will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2516/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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On 12 May 2009 I announced that the Government had decided to introduce a directly elected Mayor for the Dublin Region in 2010. This decision arises from the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a directly elected Mayor of Dublin, and from the considerations in the Green Paper on local government which I published in April 2008.

The Government's decision to introduce a directly elected Mayor of Dublin will deliver significantly strengthened leadership for the city and region, with enhanced accountability and a direct connection with the citizen.

The Mayor will primarily act as a strategic policy maker who will also work to integrate the activities of local government and the wider public service in and across Dublin. The Mayor will be equipped with a suite of substantial powers across the functions of local government, and will have the authority and powers to deliver real leadership. He or she will establish policy frameworks for the Dublin Region including in the areas of land-use planning, waste management, and water services and will also chair the Dublin Transport Authority. The specifics of the Mayor's responsibilities will be set out in legislation.

The Government's commitment to hold mayoral elections this year is unchanged. Given this intention, it will be necessary to have the relevant legislation in place in advance. I will be bringing a draft scheme of a Bill to provide for the Dublin Mayor to Government shortly.

The Government decision to introduce a directly elected Mayor for Dublin in 2010, and the legislation to provide for it, marks a first step in implementing broader government change.