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The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
John Gormley TD has published details of legislation to provide
for a directly elected Mayor for the Dublin region.
Under the proposed legislation in the general scheme of a
Local Government (Dublin Mayor and Regional Authority)
Bill 2010, the Mayor will have a range of substantial
powers to establish and deliver a vision for Dublin. The Mayor’s
election, from a population base of 1.2 million, will also
give the Mayor a unique mandate in Irish political life to
act as leader and advocate of Dublin.
Under the new powers, the Mayor will develop and oversee
policy for the Dublin Region in land-use planning, housing,
waste management and water services. The Mayor will also have
a strong role in transport and traffic management throughout
the region.
The legislation will give the Mayor the authority and powers
to implement the policies which the Mayor and the revamped
Dublin Regional Authority lay down. The Mayor will have a
role in the annual budgetary process for the Dublin local
authorities and will have the power to direct any of the four
Dublin councils and their managers in relation to policy issues.
The Mayor will also chair a powerful Regional Development
Board which will include major public sector, educational
and enterprise interests from across the Dublin Region.
Minister Gormley said - “The Mayor for Dublin will enhance
local democratic leadership and civic engagement in the Dublin
Region. The office will raise the profile of Dublin - nationally
and internationally - and assist local government in taking
the initiative in Dublin to support local and national economic
recovery and to drive and lead local development to hasten
this recovery.
"I look forward to engaging on the debate on the legislation
when it is presented to the Oireachtas and to a new exciting
electoral contest later on this year.”
The general scheme sets out a new institutional framework
for decision-making in Dublin. The Mayor will have powers
to draw up strategic plans in areas of land-use planning (and,
therefore, housing), waste management and water services for
implementation at the local level. The Dublin local authorities
will be obliged to comply with those plans.
The objective of bringing greater coherence to land use and
transportation policy in Dublin will be supported by a role
key role for the Mayor in relation to transportation and traffic
management in Dublin. The Minister is finalising provisions
in this regard in consultation with the Minister for Transport,
having regard to the change in role of the Dublin Transport
Authority to the National Transport Authority.
The Mayor will be supported by a more focused 16-member regional
authority (reduced from the current 30 members), with the
Mayor acting as chairperson. The Authority will -
- be responsible for adopting plans proposed by the Mayor
(but subject to a procedure which allows for mayoral adoption
where the Mayor considers that an inappropriate plan would
be adopted);
- oversee, advise and provide a forum for the Mayor to account
for his or her actions - and
- provide a direct, ongoing, institutional link between
the major Dublin local authorities and the Mayor.
In addition to the specific functions outlined above, the
draft scheme provides that the Mayor and Regional Authority
will have general objectives to:
- develop the Dublin Region in a manner which contributes
to environmental sustainability, economic progress, social
cohesion and the cultural vitality of the region;
- provide efficient local government services through co-ordinating
and maximising co-operation;
- promote a coherent approach from relevant public and private
sector interests;
- promote the Dublin Region on a national and international
basis - and
- co-ordinate the development of the Dublin Region with
that of the Mid-East Region.
The Mayor and Regional Authority will work closely with the
4 major Dublin local authorities in pursuing these objectives.
A new Regional Development Board, chaired by the Mayor, will
be established to replace the four city and county development
boards of the Dublin local authorities. This Board will have
a crucial role in assisting the Mayor in achieving his or
her objectives for a vibrant economic, social and cultural
city region. The Bill will allow for sub-committees to continue
working at a more local level.
The Office’s staff will provide administrative support to
the Mayor and Authority and will be composed of approximately
30 personnel. A senior advisory team will be appointed directly
by the Mayor for the duration of his or her tenure - the remainder
of the Office’s staff will consist of personnel seconded or
transferred from the Dublin local authorities, including the
existing staff of the Dublin Regional Authority.
The Minister has also written to the leaders of the opposition
parties inviting them - or their local Government spokespeople
- to meet to discuss the proposed bill.
Minister Gormley concluded - “I believe a directly elected
Mayor with real powers will be a hugely important step forward
in terms of local Government reform in Ireland. I would hope
that other political parties can engage in a positive way
in this regard and I am willing to listen to any positive
proposals that will enhance these proposals.”
To view the Local Government (Dublin Mayor and Regional
Authority) Bill 2010 - Click
Here
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