Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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621. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider providing for a process of election of local authority members to regional assemblies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55207/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Process of election of local authority members to regional assemblies is already contained in SI. No. 573/2014- Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014.

Section 5(2) of the Order provides that every member of a regional assembly shall be appointed by the constituent local authority of which such person is a member. Section 5(3) provides for the number of members to be appointed to each regional assembly, and, Section 6 (1) and (2) provides for the timing of appointment to each regional assembly.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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622. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider imposing a requirement on members of regional assemblies to issue periodical updates to the local authorities in their jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55208/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The requirements on regional assemblies to provide periodic updates to local authorities are set out in S.I. No. 573/2014 - Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014.

Sections 38(1) and (2) of the S.I. provide as follows:

38. (1) A regional assembly may make such statements or reports on any matter relating to or arising from the performance of its functions as the Minister, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, or a constituent local authority may from time to time request.

(2) Where a statement or report is prepared by a regional assembly, the assembly shall -

(a) furnish a copy of the statement or report to each constituent local authority, to each public body or other body represented on a committee established under Articles 41 or 42 to which the statement or report relates, and to such other local authorities, public bodies, other bodies or persons as the regional assembly considers appropriate,

(b) publish the statement or report on the regional assembly’s website, and

(c) make copies of the statement or report conveniently available for inspection by any person or for purchase by any person at such price as may be determined by the regional assembly and give notice of the date on and from which the statement or report shall be so made available.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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623. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider providing for municipal districts in each of the Dublin local authorities, Galway City Council and Cork City Council in order to improve the decision making facilities in each of those local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55210/25]

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The Local Government Reform Act 2014 saw the introduction of 95 municipal districts 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.

The Programme for Government commits to the establishment of 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 that the Government will consider on matters relating to the structure, finance, functions and governance and accountability of local government.

Government approved the establishment of the Local Democracy Taskforce on 4 June 2025 and the Taskforce will make its recommendations in line with its Terms of Reference. I look forward to receiving and considering the recommendations of the Taskforce in due course.