Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has held in relation to the directly elected mayor of Limerick regarding the provision of powers to the mayor in relation to Limerick’s transport strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44127/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As stated in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to making local government stronger, more accountable, and more responsive to the communities it serves. I certainly believe that an important element of that overall commitment is the enactment of legislation in relation to the office of a directly elected mayor in Limerick and I welcome the publication of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill earlier this year.

It is already the case that local government has extensive powers in relation to transport, in important areas such as active travel, permeability, public realm enhancements, road improvements and traffic calming measures to name but a few. Assignment of these existing powers is a matter for consideration generally in terms of the assignment of powers between the directly elected mayor, elected members and the executive under the proposed new arrangements.

I can confirm that I met with Minister of State Burke during the summer to discuss the General Scheme as published, as well as to discuss whether other additional transport related functions might be suitable for assignment to the newly created office. Since that meeting my Department has been actively engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the development of the General Scheme and that engagement is ongoing.

The Deputy is presumably aware that the General Scheme already proposes the creation of a new Project Ireland 2040 City Delivery Board to be chaired by the directly elected mayor. One of the functions of this newly created Board will be to oversee the implementation of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy, which will be a vitally important role in the years to come as that Strategy is rolled out.

I am also aware that the General Scheme proposes to establish an Implementation Forum to consider new functions and powers to be assigned to the directly elected mayor and it may be that this Forum might be the appropriate mechanism to consider in detail the potential for certain other transport related functions, over and above those already vested in local government.