THE government will not introduce legislation to merge county councils before the next general election but some reform could happen, according to Sean Fleming TD.
Speaking in the wake of last week's report which signalled the downsizing of local government, the Laois-Offaly TD said he had spoken to a senior minister last week.
"My clear understanding from talking to a government minister is that we are only
at consultation stage and it is not intended to bring forward any legislation on amalgamating local authorities or VECs during the lifetime of this government," he said.
However, the TD, who was never a councillor, accepted that there could be changes in planning. In Offaly he said town councils in Tullamore, Birr, could give planning permission while Offaly County Council had the same powers. He said Laois would be the model.
"In average-sized counties like we have here (Laois) there should only be one (planning authority)," he said.
The TD said there are 30 county councils but there are 88 planning authorities. "I am saying they should be more than halved. There is unnecessary duplication in some places and I pick planning authorities as one example," he said.
Deputy Fleming expects the government to produce a white paper policy on reform before any legislation. "My view is that I don't see it happening (during the lifetime of the government)," he said.
The TD said reform was not being driven by the Green Party but was originally proposed after An Bord Snip Nua's report which was published last year.
