Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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37. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the impact of local government reforms contained in the Local Government Reform Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3602/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Most of the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 only came into effect on 1 June 2014. Accordingly, 2015 will be the first full year of the operation of a number of significant changes in the local government system such as the unification of city/county councils in Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford, the establishment of municipal districts and a range of new governance arrangements. Moreover, implementation of various reform measures is ongoing ; for example the adoption of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies by Regional Assemblies, established under a recent ministerial order, the formulation of local Economic and Community Plans in accordance with guidelines issued by my Department last week, the approval of new local authority corporate plans, and the adoption of Schedules of Municipal District Works by municipal district members in accordance with recently issued guidelines. In addition, I am also willing to consider further reforms which may be warranted beyond those provided for in the 2014 Act. In this regard, I recently announced further important local government reform initiatives involving independent reviews of local government arrangements in Cork and Galway by statutory committees.

In the circumstances, I consider that it would be premature to undertake any detailed review of the impact of the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 at this stage. However, the implementation of the various reforms is kept under general review in consultation with the local authorities and the Association of Irish Local Government, which represents the elected councils of local authorities.