The future of local government reform is set out in
Putting People First, the Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government, and involves the most fundamental set of changes to local government in Ireland since the 19th century. The Local Government Reform Bill, 2013 is progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas, with its enactment planned for early 2014, in order to give legislative effect to proposals set out in
Putting People First.Putting People First is based around four key principles:
[i] Doing more for the economy, enterprise and the local community: the role of local government will be strengthened with a wider range of suitable functions. Local government will have a greater role in supporting enterprise and promoting wider economic development, thereby sustaining and creating jobs. The potential of local government to play a leadership and coordination role locally will be explored, building on its role in developing sustainable communities; for example, in relation to sectors such as education, health and welfare;
[ii] Building a local government system for the 21st century: to support a stronger local government, the architecture of the system must be reflective of modern day realities and be capable of advancing the objectives of operational efficiency and representational effectiveness. Local government will have a central role in the oversight and planning of local and community development programmes. A programme of devolution of specific functions and delegation of greater responsibility will be implemented;
[iii] Local government that is soundly funded, working better and serving the community: a rigorous programme of efficiency measures, organisational streamlining and robust performance evaluation will ensure that local government is organised and operates as efficiently as possible, achieves the highest standards of performance and provides the best quality of service to the public; and
[iv] Good governance, strong leadership and democratic accountability: to strengthen and clarify governance and related aspects of the local government system, including oversight, accountability, policy development, ethics and citizen engagement, and the status and role of elected councils and their executives.
The key short to medium term priorities for the reform of local government are:
[i] Structural reform: by mid-2014, organisational rationalisation will involve a reduction in the number of Councillors from over 1,600 to some 950, and replacement of 114 local authorities with 31 integrated authorities organised on the basis of municipal districts within counties. The amalgamation of councils in Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford will be completed and the number of Regional Authorities/Assemblies will be reduced;