Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

152. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the Local Government Bill 2013 addresses all of the concerns raised by the Council of Europe in its criticism of Ireland’s local democracy; the specific changes that were made to the Local Government Bill 2013 arising from the criticism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47552/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First, which was published in October 2012, sets out Government policy in terms of a comprehensive range of reforms in relation to local government structures, functions, funding, governance and operational matters.

A key objective of the local government reform programme is to address weaknesses in the existing system, including issues which were identified in the report on Local Democracy in Ireland adopted by the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in October 2013, such as the need for wider devolution of functions to local government, greater subsidiarity at local level, greater financial discretion for local authorities and increased consultation with local authority members associations. These issues are being addressed in the reform programme, particularly in the context of the Local Government Bill 2013, which is currently at Second Stage in the Dáil.

It should be noted that the Congress report specifically welcomes the Action Programme, endorses particular measures in the Programme including the structural changes at sub-county level, and recommends that the Programme be implemented rapidly with a view to devolving more powers and financial autonomy to local government. As outlined in the debate on the Congress report, the Government remains fully committed to the Action Programme and will continue to work towards delivering a local government system that is modern, fit for purpose, and which will be the primary vehicle for governance and public service at local level.