Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 645: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the merger of the Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Computer Services Board into the Local Government Services Board has been completed; if not, the date by which it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12473/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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A process is in place to merge the Local Government Management Services and Computer Services Boards as quickly as possible. This takes into account the existing functions of the two organisations and the needs of relevant stakeholders as well as the recommendations of the OECD report and The Report of the Task Force on the Public Service.

The Government approved the drafting of the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) (Amendment) Bill 2009 in December 2009 to amend the relevant Corporate Bodies legislation, and the associated legislation is in preparation.

Separately, steps are being taken to give practical effect to the merger in advance of the legislation. A new CEO for the merged organisation has taken up his position. The membership of both boards has been standardised to enable them to act as one in advance of the legislation. An organisation structure has been developed for the new organisation, and it, along with a number of practical HR issues, are the subject of ongoing dialogue with staff representatives.