Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will abolish the position of county manager and replace it with a chief executive; and if he will outline the limited range of executive functions that this new chief executive will hold. [14185/11]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will introduce legislation that will provide councillors with a legal power to seek reports from and question in public all providers of public services in their area. [14187/11]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will introduce legislation that will provide councillors with a legal power to seek reports from, and question in public, private sector service providers such as internet and digital TV providers, local banks and private schools on their public service remit. [14188/11]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to fundamentally reorganise local governance structures to allow for devolution of much greater decision making to local persons. [14191/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 228, 230, 231 and 234 together.

Government for National Recovery 2011-2016 contains a range of proposals in relation to local government which provide the basis for a substantial programme for the development and reform of the local government system. These include proposals relating to the position and role of local authority managers; the powers of councillors; and the reorganisation of local government structures.

Key objectives in this context 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. I intend publishing a policy statement that will outline settled Government policy in this area and I will be bringing proposals to Government on the measures needed to develop the sector, improve its capacity to meet current and future challenges and make a substantial contribution to the national recovery effort.

Relevant proposals in recent reports including the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes and the local government efficiency review group will be taken into account in the development of policy in this area. The report of the review group includes recommendations for efficiency and other savings in the local government system and I have recently established an independent implementation group to drive forward relevant recommendations of the report, with a focus on key recommendations that will remove costs and yield early savings.