Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

24. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if plans have been drawn up or considered to reinstate certain former borough and town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52276/17]

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. 

The issue raised in the Question will be addressed in this report which will be submitted to Government shortly.