Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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232. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the reform of local government in the greater Dublin area in particular the provision of a directly elected mayor for Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3776/18]

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to consider directly elected mayors in cities as part of a broader range of local government reform measures aimed at strengthening local democracy. In response to this commitment, a policy discussion report on metropolitan governance for Ireland's cities is at an advanced stage of preparation. It will be submitted to Government in the near future and presented to the Oireachtas thereafter for consideration.

The main issues to be examined in this policy discussion report include the geographic definition of metropolitan areas, the range of functions which could be assigned to a metropolitan governance structure, and options for such a structure's governance and political leadership, including by direct election.