Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the independently chaired Reorganisation Implementation Group will be established to produce an implementation plan for the reorganisation process and dual management arrangements of Waterford city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45999/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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On 22 October I announced the membership and terms of reference of the Waterford Reorganisation Implementation Group, which will be chaired by Mr Sean Aylward, who chaired the Waterford Local Government Committee. The Group will complete its work by the end of June 2013 with the production of an Implementation Plan to set a clear agenda and guidance for the completion of the reorganisation process leading to the establishment of the unitary authority for Waterford in 2014. Details of the full membership and terms of reference of the Group are attached.

Waterford Reorganisation Implementation Group

Establishment and Terms of Reference

Arising from the Government decision to implement the recommendations of the Waterford Local Government Committee, involving the creation of a new single local authority to replace the existing Waterford City and County Councils in 2014, with proposed interim dual management arrangements, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has established an Implementation Group consisting of the following members: -

Mr. Sean Alyward (Chair) (former Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform);

Mr. Joe Allen (former Principal Officer, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government);

Mr. Frank O’Regan (Vice President of Bausch and Lombe);

Mr. Ned Gleeson (former County Manager, Limerick Co. Council);

Mr. Denis McCarthy (County Manager, Waterford County Council); and

Mr. Michael Walsh (City Manager, Waterford City Council).

The Group has a general mandate to oversee planning, preparatory work and initial implementation of the reorganisation process taking account particularly of the report of the Waterford Local Government Committeeand the Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government. Without restricting its scope or flexibility pursuant to this mandate, and subject to any additional matters that the Minister may require, the functions of the Group will include oversight of, and assuring delivery in relation to, the following matters: -

1. Detailed planning and identification of early actions for the amalgamation of the local authorities, including analysis of income, expenditure, assets, liabilities, staff (numbers/grades and identification of any surpluses), services, procedures and other relevant matters in the two authorities, and identification of requirements for organisational rationalisation and integration and such other preparatory, transitional, procedural or administrative measures as may be necessary in relation to the existing authorities or their functions, in preparation for the establishment of the unified authority and the effective performance of its functions.

2. Establishment of effective co-ordination/project management arrangements to oversee and deliver successfully the restructuring process.

3. Rationalisation of the provision of services (not already subject to joint arrangements) in preparation for merger of the authorities, including consolidation of particular services and establishment of joint arrangements, as appropriate, in respective authorities, with a view to ensuring orderly transition to the unified authority.

4. Organisational rationalisation and integration as soon as possible, including the early establishment of a joint management team and deployment of staff within the two authorities in line with the integration/consolidation of services; in particular, integration of corporate functions and any other necessary rationalisation.

5. Action necessary to ensure that cost reductions and efficiencies are maximised and arrangements to measure and monitor their achievement, having regard to the potential savings quantified in the report of the Waterford Local Government Committee of €5.14m to €8.95m, including savings necessary to ensure that the level of the commercial rate in the County is reduced to the current City level following the establishment of the unitary authority, and any further potential savings.

6. Arrangements to support continued effective performance of functions by the elected councils of the two authorities, service to the councils by management and staff in the context of organisational changes, and arrangements to prepare for the effective operation of the unified council, including such matters as committees, procedures and representation on other bodies.


7. Information of, and consultation with, the elected councils, as appropriate, in relation to the reorganisation process, including provision of regular reports to a joint committee of the elected councils.

8. Measures to ensure adequate balance between the two authorities in the reorganisation process and in their management generally prior to establishment of the unified authority.

9. Action to achieve alignment and convergence between the objectives and policies of the two authorities as part of the transition towards a unitary authority in 2014 in the context of the overall development of the Waterford gateway.

10. Arrangements to merge relevant bodies linked with or related to local government, such as Joint Policing Committees and County and City Enterprise Boards /Local Enterprise Offices, and relevant measures to ensure consistency with act ions to align local government and local/community development in line with overall policy in that regard.


11. Identification of measures to maximise the capacity of local government to contribute to the economic development of Waterford and its wider hinterland/region and, in particular, to enhance the role of Waterford City as a generator of growth and a strong and dynamic focus for development of the wider region.

12. Proposals on ways to ensure that the status, identity, character, and heritage of the city of Waterford are maintained and enhanced within the unified authority,with an appropriate metropolitan district comprising the wider city and hinterland area in the eastern part of the county,which will be determined on the basis of a statutory review of local electoral areasin the context of new sub-county local government arrangements, whilehaving regard to the respective urban and rural considerations.

13. Action arising from recommendations in the report of the Waterford Local Government Committee, as appropriate.

The Implementation Group will adopt an Implementation Plan by end June2013, having regard to the foregoing and any other matters considered appropriate, to set a clear agenda and guidance for the continuation and completion of the reorganisation process under transitional management arrangements leading to the establishment of the unitary authority in 2014.