John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify for Dáil Éireann the plans he has for the potential merger of services within Waterford City Council and Waterford County Council; when these plans will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41870/12]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the level the numbers of currently elected council members on both Waterford City Council and Waterford County Council will potentially be reduced to; the estimated timeframe for any potential changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41873/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 380 together.

I established a Local Government Committee in September 2011 to carry out a review of local government arrangements in Waterford and to submit a report containing recommendations on whether the County Council and City Council of Waterford should be unified. The report of the Committee has been submitted to my Department and its recommendations will form an important component of the policy statement and action programme for the reform of local government that I intend to publish shortly. Subject to decisions by Government on structures at county and sub-county level, the policy and action programme will give rise to a review of local electoral areas and councillor numbers which will be a matter for examination by an independent local electoral boundary committee in due course.