Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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278. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress that has been made on implementing the Moorhead report; his plans in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31448/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future has a commitment to "implement the Moorhead Report on the Role and Remuneration of Elected Members within 12 months". Meeting this commitment is a priority within my Department with the aim of ensuring that councillors are properly supported to carry out their important functions and effectively represent local communities.

In the Foreword to her final report on the Review of the Role and Remuneration of Local Authority Elected Members, Ms Moorhead expressed the wish that "this report will be used to initiate a discussion of the role of the Councillor in Irish Society". I welcome the fact that such discussions are underway. In that context, a number of meetings have taken place between my colleague, Mr. Peter Burke TD, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, and councillor representative associations. That important engagement will continue.

Any changes to elected members' remuneration will require new regulations under section 142 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, which must be given effect with the consent of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Contact has been established between officials in my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in that regard.