Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to a town council (details supplied) in County Meath, the future plans for it; if he intends to abolish it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5674/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Action Programme for Effective Local Government,Putting People First, which I published on 16 October 2012 , sets out Government decisions for a range of measures in relation to local government structures, functions, funding, governance and operational matters. Chapter 6 of the Action Programme details policy decisions to replace town councils with a new model of municipal governance to address weaknesses and anomalies in the current system.

Work on implementation of the reform programme is proceeding. In relation to sub-county reorganisation, I announced the establishment of the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee on 15 November 2012. The Committee will review and make recommendations on local electoral boundaries having regard to the results of Census 2011 and the Action Programme. The Boundary Committee has been asked to report no later than 31 May 2013 and its recommendations will provide , inter alia, the basis for the configuration and municipal districts.