Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects to receive a report from the local government efficiency review group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16026/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I have asked the Local Government Efficiency Review Group to complete its work and report to me by mid-2010. The Group's findings and recommendations will then be brought to Government to consider in the appropriate policy and financial contexts.

Significant measures to modernise local government will continue in parallel with the work of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group. These include the implementation of the Transforming Public Services programme in local authorities in areas such as shared services and procurement. In addition the Government is committed to holding direct elections for the Mayor of Dublin this year and the draft scheme of the Bill to provide for the Dublin Mayor has been published.

The Government's 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 local government structural change, in line with the renewed Programme for Government. This will be more fully addressed in the Local Government White Paper, which is now at an advanced stage of preparation.

The Efficiency Review, therefore, must be viewed in the broader context of local government modernisation including the range of initiatives which I have outlined already.