Putting People First Guide - Department of Environment and Local ...

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Putting People First Summary_Layout 1 16/10/2012 10:50 Page 12local government structures will reflect appropriate metropolitan areas in the cities. metropolitan districtswill be defined within merging city and county authorities which will underpin the status of cities such aslimerick and waterford as major regional centres.in the case of dublin, having regard to the relatively recent major restructuring and the extent of reforms beingimplemented, it is not proposed to consider reorganisation of local government structures ahead of the 2014local elections.there will be devolution of specific functions from central level to local government and delegation ofgreater responsibility to local authorities:• in addition to local micro-enterprise support (through the leos), certain functions will be assignedfrom departments/agencies to local authorities in the areas of transport, local roads, tourism,sport, management of state property and heritage sites, flood management/relief, food safety andcertain infrastructural functions.• there will be delegation of greater responsibility in certain existing local authority functions in theareas of environment, water, foreshore, local/community development, roads, housing andenergy efficiency.• separate structures for the delivery of public services will not be established outside of localgovernment unless clearly necessitated in exceptional circumstances.• the scope for further extension of the reserved functions of the elected members will be fullyconsidered as part of the reform programme. in particular, the default provision which grants themanager power to act unless powers are specifically assigned to members, will be examined.regional leveltotal regional membership will reduce from 290 to 62 composed of two members of each constituent Cityand County council.the new regions:• Connacht-ulster region• southern region (the province of munster and counties Carlow, kilkenny and wexford)• eastern-midland region (the counties of leinster other than those in the southern region)12
Putting People First Summary_Layout 1 16/10/2012 10:50 Page 13regional structures and functions will be revised and the eight regional authorities and two assemblies will bereplaced by three new regional assemblies to perform an updated range of strategic functions.the main functions of the new regional assemblies will include formulation of regional spatial and economicstrategies, eu funding programme functions, oversight of local authority performance and implementation ofnational policy working with the new national oversight and audit Commission.the structural reforms outlined above at regional, county and sub-county level are anticipated to realise netsavings of the order of €40 million to €45 million, arising from local authority mergers, rationalisation andcreation of a more streamlined system of governance.13
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Putting People First Guide - Department of Environment and Local ...

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