Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the proposal in the McCarthy report to reduce the number of local authorities from 34 to 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11796/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes was published in July 2009 and, since publication, its recommendations have provided important input to Government and Ministerial consideration of options for expenditure reduction and policy development.

Consistent with the approach of the Special Group, the Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group includes recommendations for efficiency and other savings in the local government sector, to be attained in the short, medium and long term. In addressing the potential to achieve scale efficiencies, the Review Group recommended the delivery of corporate functions and other service areas on a joint basis across contiguous local authorities. I have recently established an Implementation Group to drive forward relevant recommendations of the Report, with a focus on key recommendations that will remove costs and yield early savings.

The recommendation to deliver certain services on a joint basis has potential implications for the structure of local government, with ten such dual administrative areas put forward for consideration and a clear-cut recommendation for, at a minimum, joint administration in the case of Limerick City and County. The subsequent report of the Limerick Local Government Committee, which was published in September 2010, recommended full merger of Limerick City and County and I intend to bring proposals to Government on local government structures in Limerick at an early date.

I am also considering wider proposals to renew and develop the local government system in line with the Programme for Government. Key objectives in this regard include devolution of greater decision-making to local level; strengthening the powers and functions of local authorities; enhancing the development and leadership role of local government; and strengthening its structures and funding arrangements.