Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he will engage with the various local authorities now facing the possibility of cuts in services arising from the on-going economic situation; if he will provide the local authorities with some means whereby they can take steps to improve their financial position; if he has received submissions from or exchanged views with the County Managers Association or the various local authorities' members representatives with a view to the identification of the best practice to be pursued whereby savings can be made or other measures taken to maintain the maximum level of services provided by the various local authorities throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39014/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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As a matter of course I attend the annual conferences and seminars of the Councillors’ representative associations, whenever possible – the Local Authority Members Association, the Association of County and City Councils and the Association of Municipal Authorities in Ireland. At these meetings, I generally meet with the officers of the associations and discuss topics of interest including local government reform, the efficiency agenda and funding issues. Regular visits to individual local authorities also afford me the opportunity to discuss such matters with both Councillors and County/City Managers.

My Department’s Senior Management Team meets a number of times each year with the executive of the County and City Managers’ Association (CCMA) to discuss a wide range of matters of concern including efficiencies, funding and local government reform. I have also met personally with the managers as a group on a number of occasions. Earlier this year I met with the chairs of the CCMA sub-committees to discuss a range of topics and also with a delegation from the CCMA in January 2012 to discuss progress made by the sector in implementing recommendations contained in the Report of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group. The CCMA has worked closely with the Local Government Efficiency Review Implementation Group to progress recommendations of the Report within the competence of local government, including in areas such as shared services, local government sector procurement and an integrated ICT strategy. Furthermore, the aforementioned associations have made submissions to my Department covering a range of issues including local government reform, the alignment of local government and community development, property tax, efficiencies etc.

Implementation of the reform agenda in terms of local government is being driven by my Department in partnership with the County and City Managers’ Association (CCMA). A joint Public Service Reform Oversight Group has been established which includes the Secretary General of my Department and CCMA representatives. A dedicated Project Management Office reports to the oversight group. The PMO has been staffed and resourced drawing from existing expertise and resources in the sector. Experienced staff from a number of authorities, with a range of appropriate skills, have been seconded to the PMO.

The CCMA has identified total savings of €830m in respect of the period 2008 to 2012. This includes payroll and expenditure savings. Local authorities have shed some 8,200 staff since June 2008 whilst continuing to maintain an impressive level of public service delivery. Savings achieved to date through new work practices and efficiency measures will help to maintain the maximum level of services provided by the various local authorities.

The Government’s broad policy approach to local government reform was set out in the Programme for Government. In line with this, I intend to publish a detailed policy statement and action programme for the reform of local government very shortly. The programme will set out a clear vision for the future of local government and proposals to achieve it, with particular focus on strengthening structures generally at regional, county and sub-county levels, expanding the role of local government, maximising operational and organisational efficiency and improving governance, oversight, local political and executive leadership and citizen engagement.

The reform programme will also reflect other work under way in relation to various aspects of local government, including local authority mergers, efficiency implementation, local government funding and alignment of local and community development with local government.