Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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2010. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the implementation of the programme for Government commitments in respect of local government reform, in particular the promised report to Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas by mid-2017 on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability; if he will further report on the possible devolution of new powers to local authorities and the establishment of town and borough councils. [37892/17]

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government sets out a number of requirements in relation to local government reform. This involves the submission of a report to Government and the Oireachtas on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability, and to ensure that local government funding, structures and responsibilities strengthen local democracy. The Programme also references some specific issues to be considered such as the concept of directly elected mayors in cities, devolution of new powers to local authorities, reducing the size of local electoral areas, and town council status. 

Work on the report is at an advanced stage, and I hope to be in a position to have it available for consideration by Government in the coming weeks.