Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is engaging with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in relation to the drafting of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill, which is well advanced.  

Finalisation of this complex Bill has been identified as a priority and the Department is working towards the publication of the Bill in April.  It is hoped that the Bill would then be able to progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas during the 2023 summer session.

The timing of the Limerick Mayoral Election will be a matter for Government once the Bill is enacted. In advance of the election, a public information campaign about this significant change in the way in which Limerick will be governed will be very important. 

It is envisaged that the directly elected mayor of Limerick will have responsibility for most of the executive functions currently resting with the chief executive of the local authority including, at a strategic or policy level, in the areas of:

- Strategic Development, i.e. proposing the development plan for the City and County and driving the economic and spatial development of Limerick

- Housing and building, e.g. developing a housing strategy for Limerick and ensuring its delivery

- Road Transport and Safety, i.e. road maintenance and improvement, and traffic management 

- Environmental services, i.e. services that help to protect and enhance the environment in Limerick

The directly elected mayor will also, inter alia, be responsible for proposing the annual budget to the Council and for functions currently exercised by the Cathaoirleach outside the council chamber, including the important representative role in Limerick, nationally and internationally.

The creation of a new institutional structure to facilitate regular engagement between national Government and the Limerick mayor at political level will be an important feature of the Bill, to oversee the transition of executive responsibility to the Mayor and examine policy decisions at Government level as they effect Limerick. 

It is envisaged that the Mayor will be able to request relevant information from or consult with Government Departments or public bodies in relation to policies that may have an impact on Limerick. It is also expected that the Mayor will be empowered to convene key stakeholders in Limerick to advance the development of the local authority area in accordance with policies agreed by the elected Council.