Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
397. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the implementation of the programme for Government commitments in relation to local government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31257/23]
View answerThere are a number of commitments in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future in respect of the local government sector that are a matter for my Department to drive implementation of. An update on these is set out below.
In relation to the Directly Elected Mayor of Limerick, 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 my Department is working towards the publication of the Bill shortly. It is hoped that the Bill will progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible thereafter. The timing of the Limerick Mayoral Election will be a matter for Government. 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 and my Department will be working with Limerick City and County Council to ensure that information is provided to the public in Limerick.
The 2022 Dublin Citizens’ Assembly was asked to consider the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin”. Its final report was presented to the Taoiseach in January 2023, and contains 18 recommendations. This report is being referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for consideration of its recommendations. It is also being asked to provide advice on the requirement for the holding of a plebiscite to determine if Dublin should have a directly elected Mayor and local government structures, and to propose draft wording for such a plebiscite if appropriate. The Committee is being asked to report by the end of 2023. The Report is also under consideration by officials in my Department with a view to bringing forward a comprehensive response to the Report for Government’s consideration in early 2024. The outcome of the Joint Oireachtas Committee process will inform Government’s final deliberations.
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, significant and unprecedented support was provided to ratepayers by local government, underwritten by Exchequer funding. The commercial rates waiver schemes provided support to businesses and financial certainty to local authorities. Commercial rates waivers, in various guises, applied from April 2020 to March 2022. In total the Exchequer underwrote commercial rates waivers amounting to €1.27bn in the period.
The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 was passed by the Oireachtas and enacted on 11 July 2019. Amendments are required to address key technical issues in the Act before commencing the remaining provisions. Commencement of the provisions of the 2019 Act is an important element in a commitment in the Programme for Government to examine ways to further streamline the commercial rates system post Covid-19. Plans to address the required amendments and commence the legislation were delayed by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Work is underway to address the required amendments.
Until 2022, 80% of the estimated LPT liability in each local authority area for a given year was retained in that area to fund public services, notwithstanding any local variation decisions. The remaining 20% of LPT was re-distributed to provide equalisation funding to those local authorities that have lower property tax bases. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the LPT allocation mechanism for 2023 is changed to allow for 100% of the estimated yield to be retained locally within the local authority area where it is collected.
To support the operation of municipal districts in strengthening local democracy, communities, villages and towns in a sustainable manner, my Department undertook a process of consultation with the local government sector on how this could best be achieved. The results of these findings, together with the Institute of Public Administration’s review of municipal districts were used to inform Best Practice Recommendations for Local Authorities on the operation of Municipal Districts, which was issued to the Chief Executives of the 31 local authorities in November 2022.
My Department worked with the Department of Community and Rural Development on the provision of guidance to local authorities on the development of the economic elements of Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs). These guidelines were launched in November 2021. Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, local authorities themselves are charged with responsibility for promoting and supporting economic development of their local areas.
My Department has recently engaged the Institute of Public Administration to carry out a review of local authority Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs). The review is being carried out in the context of the commitment to ‘mandate the establishment of climate action SPCs in each local authority’ and is expected to take approximately six months. It will examine how the SPC system is operating on the ground in terms of its objectives and to propose any changes for consideration to enhance its operation, role and impact. A Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) has been established to oversee, advise on and steer this review of SPCs, further information about which may be found on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/f96ec-a-stakeholder-working-group-swg-for-the-review-of-local-authority-strategic-policy-committees/
The pay related recommendations of the “Independent Review of the Role and Remuneration of Elected Members”, overseen by Sara Moorhead SC, have been implemented and a significant reform of the remuneration package available to councillors introduced with effect from 1 July 2021.
Acting on recommendations arising from the Moorhead Review, a Training and Professional Development stakeholder working group, chaired by the Department and including representatives of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) and the County and City Management Association (CCMA), was established in 2021 to review training delivered to elected members. It is intended that this review will identify gaps in training provision and explore how a structured programme of training can be developed to ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach, particularly for newly elected members. It is also intended that the working group’s review will identify training that could be delivered by local authorities, including the participation of elected members in local authority staff training and workshops on topical matters, e.g. the county development plan process. The group is currently examining the delivery of both induction and refresher induction, as well as localised customised training.
The Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Members of Local Authorities) Act 2022 was enacted in December 2022. Under this legislation, councillors are now subject to many of the same protections as afforded to employees under the Maternity Protection Act 1994 (as amended). This legislation also allows the option for a councillor to appoint an individual as a temporary substitute in their place if absent on maternity leave or due to illness.
In relation to commitments for more family friendly councils, my Department has funded a number of resources aimed at providing guidance to local authorities in the area of flexible work practices, including the National Women’s Council of Toolkit for Local Authorities on Supporting Family-Friendly Local Government.
In recognition of the potential for the use of technology to strengthen local democracy, particularly to increase accessibility and transparency of local government in action, the Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, has approved funding for a pilot programme aimed at local authorities where the infrastructure in the main council chamber/s is inadequate for hybrid meetings. This initiative will provide part-funding for the purchase and installation of hardware, such as cameras and audio equipment.
In relation to the commitment to empower local authorities to encourage improved gender and ethnic mix in local elections, my Department:
• in 2021, provided €62,000 in funding to 15 local authorities, and one inter-county group supported by the AILG and See Her Elected, for the establishment of women's councillor caucuses.
• since 2019, issued an annual Call for Funding to local authorities for projects which aim to build general awareness of local government and encourage participation in local decision-making structures, particularly among women, minority and diverse communities, with funding totalling €192,200 awarded to 18 local authorities in 2022.
My Department also operates a funding scheme to incentivise political parties to increase the number of women candidates in local elections. This scheme is open to all registered political parties and in the interests of inclusivity, to official representative groups of independents. In December 2022, €215,594 was allocated across 8 political parties and 1 independent group, for initiatives such as a Party Diversity Officer, a public information meeting targeting new voters in Ireland, national campaigns encouraging and facilitating female participation, and an annual women’s conference.
