asked the Minister for the Environment the names of representative local authority bodies consulted regarding reforming the local government system as mentioned in Building on Reality, 1985-87.

2.

asked the Minister for the Environment the names of those who made submissions regarding reforming the local government system as mentioned in Building on Reality, 1985-87.

3.

asked the Minister for the Environment the names of the towns whose outmoded boundaries mean that many voters have no say in the election of their own town councils as mentioned in Building on Reality, 1985-87.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 3, together.

Consultations have taken place with the local authority associations, the county councils' general council and the association of municipal authorities and full account has been taken of submissions made by various local authority and other groups. In relation to urban boundaries, I would refer the Deputy to Volume 1 of the Census of Population of Ireland, 1981, which shows the populations within, and outside, town boundaries. The Government are taking account of this situation in examination of local government reform.

Would the Minister tell the House the names of the towns which he has in mind where he proposes to change the boundaries? Is it proposed to change the boundary of Galway city and to change the status of the council from a borough council to a county borough?

These matters are under consideration by my Department and will be put to the Government when they are considering the reorganisation of local government.

Have discussions taken place with the bodies representing the staffs of the local authorities in regard to the fundamental changes which are proposed in the Building on Reality programme and mentioned in recent newspaper articles and speeches by members of the Government.

No discussions have taken place with staff or other members of local authorities prior to a decision being taken by the Government on the proposals for reorganisation.

Does the Minister recognise that if it is proposed to introduce four county boroughs in the Dublin area it will involve massive reorganisation of the administration of the local authority structure in Dublin which will have serious repercussions for the staffs operating the administration of the local authorities in those areas at present? It is very remiss of the Minister and his staff not to have entered into some discussions with the city and county manager and the bodies representing the staff——

Presumably this matter will come before the House in some form or another.

I cannot presume anything.

I agree that discussions will have to take place when decisions are made but, until the Government have made decisions regarding the number of local authorities which will be created in the plan to reorganise local government, discussions cannot take place.

Does the Minister accept that it is difficult to understand the Government's timetable in regard to implementing reforms in local authorities? They have been in office for two years and we have not seen their proposals although the Minister and the Taoiseach have stated that it is proposed to have all these changes implemented so that the local authority election in June 1985 will be held on the basis of the new structures. Can the Minister explain how he expects that time scale to be implemented when he has not even entered into discussions with one section which is going to be very seriously affected by these changes?

The Taoiseach indicated to the House that, after the Government had taken decisions in regard to local government reorganisation, a statement would be made about the proposed approach to the reconstruction.

The Minister will have to accept that his answers are very inadequate and will cause much concern with regard to the intentions of the Government. One wonders whether there is any intention to hold the local government elections in 1985 and if there is a ploy to organise another postponement.