Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

229. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on local authority arrangements in counties Cork and Galway; if he is still considering the amalgamation of local authorities in both counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18548/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In 2015 the Cork Local Government Committee was appointed to carry out an objective review of local government arrangements in Cork city and county including the boundary of Cork city and to make recommendations with respect to whether the boundary of the city should be altered or whether Cork City Council and Cork County Council should be unified. The Committee's report, which incorporates a minority report, was submitted to the Minister on 2 September 2015.

Similarly, in 2015 the Galway Local Government Committee was appointed to carry out an objective review of local government arrangements in Galway to examine whether the boundary of Galway city should be altered or whether Galway City Council and Galway County Council should be unified. The Committee’s report was submitted to the Minister on 30 November 2015.

The issues dealt with in the reviews of local government arrangements in Cork and Galway (including both the majority and minority positions in the Cork report) were referred to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform for consideration earlier this year. These matters will also be considered in the preparation of a report for Government and the Oireachtas by mid-2017, pursuant to the Programme for a Partnership Government on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability and to ensure that local government funding, structures and responsibilities strengthen local democracy.