Written answers

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Local Government Reform

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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487. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the process that will be involved in implementing the proposals to amalgamate Galway city and county councils in one new authority; if there will be a plebiscite in the county as a whole on this matter; if legislation will be required to implement this decision; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the elected members of Galway county council passed a resolution rejecting the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41887/16]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An Expert Group was established recently to carry out further detailed examination and planning arising from the report of the Galway Local Government Committee in relation to future local government arrangements in Galway. That report recommended the establishment of such a Group to undertake a detailed technical review by way of follow up to its proposals.

The Group has been asked to provide an initial report on these matters by 31 March 2017, which will be considered in the context of an overall report on local government matters to be submitted to Government and the Oireachtas by mid-2017 under the Programme for a Partnership Government.

I am aware of the resolution by Galway County Council concerning the 2015 committee’s report. Primary legislation would be necessary in the event of a decision to implement the recommendation in the report that a new unified Greater Galway Authority be established. There is no requirement for the holding of a plebiscite on such a matter.

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