David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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614. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline the purpose of bodies (details supplied); the reason each local authority is required to pay funds to these organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48761/17]

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) is a networking, policy development and training resource for the elected members of Ireland's local authorities. The Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) acts as a body for the representation of the interests of elected members of local authorities.

Section 225 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, provides that a local authority may hold membership of an association of local authorities. Section 226 of the Act provides that each elected member of a local authority may in his or her own right hold membership of LAMA. The Act provides that each local authority may make annual contributions to the funds of the AILG and LAMA. The decision to hold or to cease to hold membership of the AILG is a reserved function of the elected members of each local authority.

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) was established under the Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014. The functions and powers of regional assemblies are as set out under Part 3 of the Order. Article 57(11) of the Order provides that the expenses of a regional assembly incurred in accordance with its adopted budget shall be refunded to the assembly by the constituent local authorities within its regional area and in proportion to the populations of their respective functional areas.