Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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232. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the progress of the local government (directly elected mayor with executive functions in limerick city and county) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35759/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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At its meeting of 20 April 2021, the Government approved the General Scheme of a Bill providing for a directly elected mayor for Limerick. Government also approved the publication of the General Scheme, as well as its referral both to the Oireachtas for pre-legislative scrutiny and to the Office of the Attorney General for priority drafting of a Bill. 

The Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government and Heritage published its Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme in November 2021. Officials in my Department have been engaging with the Parliamentary Drafter on the Bill, including with regard to the incorporation of the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee in such a way that they will build on the work of the Implementation Advisory Group for the Limerick mayor project.

Drafting of this complex Bill is at an advanced stage and publication of the Bill has been identified as a priority for my Department as soon as practicable in 2022. The time frame for its passage through the legislative process will then be a matter for the Oireachtas, having regard to the overall Government legislative programme.

The timing of an election for mayor of Limerick will then be a matter for Government once the legislation is enacted.