Mr Phil Hogan, T.D., today (26
th July 2011) announced further measures aimed at strengthening the local government system. A unified County Council will be established in Tipperary with effect from the 2014 local elections, replacing the existing North and South Tipperary County Councils. The new authority will serve a significantly increased population of 159,000 people (compared with North Tipperary County Council 70,219 and South Tipperary County Council 88,433).
North and South Tipperary were among the authorities for which the 2010 Local Government Efficiency Review Group report recommended joint management arrangements. A full merger would achieve greater savings both through the generation of scale economies and efficiencies and the removal of duplication, with integration of administrations and service delivery. The merger should enable commercial rates in North Tipperary, currently €60.13, to be reduced to the South Tipperary level of €56.77, which is estimated to cost in the region of €389,000.
However, the rationale for unification does not lie solely in finance or efficiency. It should also bring about stronger, more cohesive local government that is better positioned to promote the interests of the county and contribute to job creation and the recovery effort generally. "A unified local authority, following 173 years of separation, will serve an increased population, should have greater scale, strength, assets and capacity to help meet challenges arising and to promote the economic and social development of the county as a whole", commented Mr. Hogan.
Specific implications of merger include:
There are particular factors which favour the amalgamation of North and South Tipperary. The two authorities were linked under joint management up to 1969. The profile of both of the administrative counties is similar in many respects, and they share common features in terms of administration and broadly similar levels of services. Moreover, there is a strong level of county-wide identity in Tipperary that transcends the current administrative divisions.
The Tipperary decision follows the recent announcement of the merger of Limerick City and County Councils. Minister Hogan has also now announced details of an Implementation Group to oversee the practical work of local government reorganisation in Limerick. The Group will be chaired by Mr Denis Brosnan who chaired the Limerick Local Government Committee that recommended merger of the two authorities in its report last year.
Membership and terms of reference of the Limerick Implementation Group are attached. The Group is being asked to commence its work by 1 September 2011 and complete by 31 March 2012, culminating with the production of an Implementation Plan which will set a clear agenda and guidance for the completion of the reorganisation process leading to the establishment of the unitary authority in 2014.
Legislation will be brought forward by early 2012 to cover transitional management arrangements. Up until the merger in 2014, organisational rationalisation and integration will proceed as far as possible, including integration of services and administration, and alignment and convergence in policies between the two authorities. Further legislation will be required to implement, with effect from the 2014 local elections, the merger of the two authorities, establishment of a new unitary authority and transfer of the functions, and relevant finance, assets, liabilities, and staff from the existing councils to the successor authority.
Implementation arrangements similar to those outlined above for Limerick will be put in place in Tipperary. An Implementation Group will be appointed to oversee and promote preparatory work towards reorganisation and there will be a transition to full amalgamation in 2014. Minister Hogan indicated that he would announce further details of this in September and that he also intends to initiate a review to consider whether the creation of a unified authority in Waterford would be desirable.
"The measures we have announced in relation to Limerick and Tipperary involve the most significant change in the structure of local government for many years. They are among the early actions in a wider programme of local government reform and development that I will be developing over the coming months" said Minister Hogan.
EndsFor further information contact:
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