Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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1454. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of the statutory committees he established on 19 June 2015 to review local government boundaries in a number of areas, the reason the review committee consists of persons who are currently or formerly public officials; the reason there is no voice of the community for the public or representatives of the public on these committees; his views on the current position regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31468/15]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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1455. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the statutory committees he established to review local government boundaries, if he is satisfied with the statutory provision governing these committees which exclude community and public involvement in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31469/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1454 and 1455 together.

I announced the establishment of independent statutory committees on 19 June 2015 to review local government boundaries in Athlone, Carlow, Drogheda and Waterford. In each case, the committees have been asked to carry out a review of the boundary between the respective counties and city and county and to make recommendations with respect to those boundaries and any consequential recommendations with respect to the areas of the Municipal , Borough or Metropolitan Districts , as appropriate, that they consider to be necessary in the interests of effective and convenient local government.

The appointment of members to the boundary committees was undertaken in accordance with section 28 of the Local Government Act 1991, subsection (4)(d) of which provides for the disqualification of certain persons from membership, including members of the Oireachtas, European Parliament or of a local authority. Accordingly, I have no discretion in relation to appointing public representatives to the Committees. The appointment of members to the committees in question was based on their range of knowledge, experience and expertise, including in relation to local government matters and public administration generally and I have full confidence in their ability to examine the issues rigorously and to report in an objective and informed manner in accordance with their terms of reference.

In terms of public involvement in the review of boundaries,the various Committees are specifically required by section 33 Local Government Act 1991 to invite and have regard to submissions from the public and they also have a discretionary power to hold an oral hearing.

I am satisfied with the existing provisions governing local authority boundary alterations but I will, nonetheless, keep the relevant code under review having regard to relevant experience in this area.