Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 5 May 2021, the status of the review process regarding the filling of the post of chief executive of Galway County Council on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33900/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The former Chief Executive of Galway County Council retired on 4 July 2014.  A temporary Chief Executive was appointed at that time, pending a permanent appointment.

The  temporary Chief Executive remained in place until 23 May 2021.  In accordance with statutory provisions, I  appointed a new temporary Chief Executive to Galway County Council with effect from 24 May 2021.

In the intervening period, there has been extensive policy development processes examining optimum arrangements for local governance in Galway. Arising from these processes, in June 2018 the Government decided in principle to implement the unanimous recommendation of the Expert Advisory Group to amalgamate Galway City and County Councils by 2021.

In order to progress matters, the Local Government Bill 2018 contained provision for a single chief executive post with dual responsibility for Galway City and County Councils, to, inter alia, progressively implement organisational integration in advance of a full merger. However, these provisions were removed from the Bill through an amendment approved in the Seanad.

In light of the foregoing, it has been deemed appropriate to review the position in relation to the filling of the post of Chief Executive of Galway County Council on a permanent basis. That review process is underway and will be concluded as quickly as possible.