Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if under Putting People First there will be in increase in the number of elected councillors in each of the existing Dublin Local Authorities; what that increase will be; and the expected cost and the justification for this decision. [48684/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The proposals in relation to local government arrangements within counties contained in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government will give rise to a review of local electoral areas and associated membership in Dublin. This will be a matter for examination by an independent statutory boundary committee in accordance with relevant criteria to be set out in terms of reference. It is my intention that the Committee will be established shortly.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated national cost of councillors under Putting People First including salaries, expenses and so on; the total estimated cost broken down by local authority; the current total costs per annum of County and Town Councillors; the estimated savings under Putting People First compared to current costs per annum; the total number of councillors per local authority under Putting People First; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48685/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First, indicated that it would be reasonable to project a target for overall savings in the range €15 to €20 million per annum relative to 2010 expenditure figures as potentially achievable from changes in sub-county governance when the new arrangements have bedded down.

In relation to payments to councillors, it is estimated that the current total cost per annum for county and town councillors amounts to some €30.7m per annum. This includes representational payments, the annual expenses allowance, training, and telephone allowances, together with allowances for chairing County Development Boards and Strategic Policy Committees. At existing rates, estimated savings under the Action Programme compared to current costs per annum would be likely to be approximately €3.7m from mid-2014 onwards arising from the reduction from the current total of 1,627 local authority members to not more than 950 as indicated in the Action Programme. Estimates of likely savings arising from changes are not available in respect of individual authorities.

The future number of councillors per local authority was not specified in the Action Programme. More detailed information in that regard will emerge in the context of t he review of local electoral areas by an independent statutory boundary committee. It is my intention that the Committee will be established shortly.