Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on the terms of reference of Limerick local government committee, the composition of which he announced recently; if its brief includes County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9430/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The terms of reference of the Limerick local government committee are set out at the end of this reply. The committee has been tasked with the preparation of a report into the most appropriate arrangements for local government for the city and county of Limerick. One of the issues which it has been asked to consider is whether there should be an adjustment between the boundary of County Clare and Limerick City or County.

Terms of Reference of the Limerick Local Government Committee

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government hereby establishes the Limerick Local Government Committee under Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1991, hereinafter referred to as "the Committee". The following people are hereby appointed as members of the Committee:

Denis Brosnan (Chair)

Maurice Carr

John Cullen

Brendan Tuohy

Michelle Wilson

The Committee shall stand dissolved upon submission of their final report to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In accordance with section 32 of the Local Government Act 1991, the Committee is hereby tasked with preparing a report into the most appropriate arrangements for local government for the city and county of Limerick. The report shall comprehend the leadership and the development of Limerick as a Gateway under the National Spatial Strategy and shall, in particular, include recommendations for improved arrangements including inter alia:

Whether there should be changes made to the boundary of Limerick City, having examined the City Council's 2005 application for a boundary extension;

Whether the County Council of Limerick and the City Council of Limerick should be unified;

Whether alternative arrangements should be made to share/co-ordinate the functions, administration and leadership of Limerick City and County, either at county/city level or on a wider and more regional basis;

Whether there should be an adjustment between the boundary of County Clare and Limerick City or County.

In carrying out its task the Committee shall have regard to:

The need to ensure that Limerick city maximises its potential under the National Spatial Strategy, as a dynamic regional centre in the Mid West, recognising the importance of cities in driving regional development;

Meeting the challenges in regenerating the city and the wider Mid West region in economic, social and physical terms, taking account of the work of the Task Force on the MidWest established by the Tánaiste and chaired by Mr. Denis Brosnan;

The need to secure value for money in local government, taking account of the work of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group. In this regard the committee will seek data on (i) staffing changes which have occurred in Limerick City and County Councils since the 2008 boundary alteration, (ii) likely staff changes which would occur within both councils in the event of a boundary alteration, (iii) other data on staffing, usage of buildings, and other cost related issues that the committee deem it necessary to obtain from the councils;

The fact that 44% of homes in the city council area are social housing, the need to achieve a better level of social diversity in housing across the entire urban area, and the political structure likely to deliver an improved housing mix;

The need to ensure the delivery of an integrated public service, as set out in the Report of the Task Force on the Public Service;

The need to ensure that the Limerick region is served by efficient and viable local government structures;

The recommendation in the Report of the Task Force on the Public Service for the adoption of "county boundaries (or groupings of them) for the organisation, delivery and evaluation of services and programmes";

Traditional public loyalties to existing local government boundaries, where relevant;

The possibility that new directly elected political leadership models will be introduced to deliver on innovative local government leadership in Limerick, having regard to the model recently agreed by Government for Dublin and noting also the commitment in the Renewed Programme for Government which proposes to strengthen the strategic role and function of regional authorities in planning transport, water and waste management;

The recommendations of recent relevant reports and studies including: National Competitiveness Council report - Our Cities: Drivers of National Competitiveness (April 2009); Gateway Development Index - Border, Midland & Western and Southern & Eastern Regional Assemblies (2009); Addressing issues of Social Disadvantage in Moyross and other disadvantaged areas of Limerick City - Report to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion (April 2007) - John Fitzgerald; Gateway Investment Priorities - DEHLG and Forfás (2006), Atlantic Gateways - DEHLG (2004).

The Committee shall make such recommendations with respect to the above issues as it considers necessary in the interests of effective, efficient and innovative local government. It shall prepare and furnish to the Minister a report in writing of its review and its recommendations, which the Minister will publish.