Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether the Putting People First document is primarily aspirational in a number of sections; if he will specify the additional functions that will be given to local authorities under Putting People First; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46305/12]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the precise reserved functions of local councillors which are to be strengthened as part of his wider programme of reform; if he will outline the role that is envisaged for councillors in terms of fostering community engagement at the municipal level in the absence of town councils; if he will further confirm if the review process on councillors' representation payments will take into account the fact that payments under the current system when applied to a possible maximum of 40 members per council as is proposed, no significant savings in this area could be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46408/12]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an estimate for a 12 month period of the amount of money that he believes will be saved by the abolition of our town councils in tabular form, that is for counties Kerry, Cork and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46471/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 409, 410 and 444 together.

I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 56, 61, 64, 80, 91, 92 and 98 on today’s order paper, which sets out the position in relation to the Action Programme for Effective Local Government, which was published on 16 October 2012, including action proposed to strengthen the functions of local authorities and their members and sub-county governance.

The Action Programme provides for additional local government functions with particular regard to three key areas:

- the operation of the local micro-enterprise support service through Local Enterprise Offices;

- local authority oversight and planning of local and community development programmes; and

- an enhanced and clearer role in economic development.

- responsibility for tourist information offices;

- involvement in the delivery of local and rural transport;

- responsibility relating to local sports partnerships;

- responsibility for managing property on behalf of the National Parks and Wildlife Service;

- responsibility in relation to transport and other infrastructure on offshore islands;

- administration of community development programmes.

The Action Programme addresses the issue of citizen engagement and public participation in local government and indicates that mechanisms to promote greater community/citizen engagement with local government will be considered, including possible participative democracy arrangements.