729. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which he envisages the secretarial scheme for councillors will look like as laid out in the local government taskforce implementation plan. [65072/26]

730. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will meet with all current chief executives of local authorities and direct them to implement the non-legislative action points in the local Government taskforce in line with the dates established in the implementation report. [65069/26]

735. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he supports all actions identified in the local government taskforce; and if he intends to prioritise legislation and Government time in the 31 areas identified for legislative action. [65068/26]

754. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the financial package of measures planned in relation to the local Government taskforce and the forthcoming Budget. [65066/26]

755. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he supports devolving more powers from his office and from State agencies to local authorities to be commensurate with the implementation plan to the local Government taskforce. [65071/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 729, 730, 735, 754 and 755 together.

The establishment of the Local Democracy Taskforce was a key priority in the Programme for Government. Government committed to strengthening local democracy and examining opportunities to increase the powers of elected Councillors, devolve functions to local government and improve local decision-making. The Taskforce, chaired by Jim Breslin, former Secretary General, undertook its work between June 2025 and February 2026.

In relation to engagement with Chief Executives, the membership of the Taskforce comprised of Local Authority elected member representative bodies, Local Authority executive representatives, including from the County and City Management Association and Local Government Management Agency, the National Oversight and Audit Commission, the Local Government Audit Service, Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage and independent and other experts.

The Local Democracy Taskforce Report was considered by Government and published on 22 July 2026, alongside the launch of the Government's Implementation Plan for Local Democracy Reform 2026-2029. This marks the beginning of the next phase of local government reform. The reforms set out in the Implementation Plan are designed to ensure that local government has the powers, structures, resources, and accountability mechanisms necessary to fulfil its role effectively.

The reforms span a broad range of areas, including strengthening the role of councillors, enhancing public participation in local decision-making, improving transparency and accountability arrangements, strengthening the financial foundations of local government, and creating more structured engagement between central and local government.

Action 9 of the Local Democracy Taskforce Implementation Plan deals with secretarial supports for councillors:

“Ensure appropriate and consistent administrative, secretarial and meeting supports for Councillors to enable a more effective balance between the statutory obligations and representative role.”

The implementation plan sets out a phased programme of action running through to 2029. A number of reforms will commence in the coming months through administrative and policy measures. Other recommendations will require legislative change and will be progressed over the lifetime of the Implementation Plan. Implementation will involve a process of detailed policy development in consultation with key local government sector stakeholders, including in relation to Action 9 referred to above.

As implementation progresses, my Department will work closely with local authorities, elected members, and all stakeholders to deliver this ambitious programme of reform.

As a phased body of work, with implementation of the structural changes not taking effect until after the next local elections in 2029, my Department will engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation through the normal Estimates processes regarding any agreed funding needs arising from the reform programme.