Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for local government reform; the time frame for implementations of these reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22455/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Work on the reform of local government is already underway following Government decisions to merge Limerick City and County Councils and North and South Tipperary County Councils by mid-2014. Progress reports have been submitted by the Reorganisation Implementation Groups in these areas and each Group is due to produce an Implementation Plan by mid-2012. The report of the Waterford Local Government Committee, which was established to consider whether Waterford City and County Councils should be unified, was submitted to me recently and is under examination.

Building on these actions, I intend to bring wider policy proposals to Government in the near future for an action programme on local government, with particular focus on strengthening structures generally at regional, county and sub-county levels and expanding the role of local government as per the Programme for Government. The reform programme will also reflect other work under way in relation to local government efficiency implementation and financing and will broadly map out further aspects of the local government system on which reform proposals will be considered.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason motor tax, driving license applications and other similar functions cannot be processed by town council offices in a location (details supplied); if he intends to address this as part of his plans to reform local Government structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22456/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The licensing authority for the purpose of motor tax and driving licences in Wicklow is the County Council and the administrative arrangements for the provision of services by a local authority within its functional area are a matter for that authority. Most motor tax transactions can be done by post or online and driving licence applications can be made by post and, accordingly, such transactions do not require a visit to a motor tax office. However, I understand that there is an area office in Bray, which opens three mornings a week with the facility to process motor tax applications. I envisage that decisions on the delivery of motor tax services at local level will remain a matter to be determined by the relevant licensing authority. Future delivery of the driving licence service is a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.