Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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579. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the financial supports available to members of local authorities to carry out their role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26336/18]

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The financial supports available to elected members of local authorities to assist them in carrying out their statutory functions are provided for under the Local Government (Expenses of Local Authority Members) Regulations 2014-2017, given effect with the consent of the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform under section 142 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended.

My Department has issued directions to local authorities concerning the range of supports that are available to elected members under the Regulations and the terms and conditions that apply. The most recent directions, issued on 31 January 2018, are available on my Department's website at the following link:

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To ensure that financial supports provided to elected members remain fit for purpose into the future I have agreed with my colleague, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, that an independent person will be appointed to carry out a full review of the role of elected members of local authorities, as well as the remuneration and other supports provided to assist them in carrying out their duties. The review will be undertaken in consultation with elected members and their representative organisations and a report providing a full update on the review's progress will be prepared before the end of the year.