Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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376. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his progress to date on the programme for Government 2025 commitment on the re-establishment of borough and town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27091/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Government Reform Act 2014 dissolved 80 town councils which represented just 14% of the population. The previous town council system also led to duplication both in administrative and electoral terms. Instead, the Act saw the introduction of 95 municipal districts, representing 100% of the population, in 25 of the 31 local authorities at sub-county level, while area committees would operate in the 3 city authorities of Cork, Dublin and Galway, and the 3 Dublin county authorities.

Each municipal district can include several towns and villages and their hinterlands, with local matters dealt with at municipal district level and wider strategic issues decided at county level. The result is an integrated administrative structure in each county, which maximises operational efficiency while ensuring devolved decision-making throughout the county.

The Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland’s Future contains a commitment to convene a ‘Local Democracy Taskforce’ with the local government sector to finalise a programme for the reform and strengthening of local government. The Taskforce will bring forward proposals, which the Government will consider, on issues including strengthening the framework and powers of municipal districts and area committees, and the establishment of town bodies in large towns, on a regional phased basis, to provide a focal-point for raising concerns of towns and coordinating town-focused activities.

The Terms of Reference for the Taskforce are currently under development in my Department and these will have due regard to the commitments in the Programme for Government. Following input from key stakeholders and further consideration, they will be brought to Government for approval. The first meeting of the Taskforce will take place as soon as possible thereafter.