The Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government yesterday launched an Action Programme on Local Government. This programme will change many of the fundamentals of local government and how our system works. Included in the plan are,

• There will be a reduction in the number of local authorities from 114 to 31 City and County Councils with integrated areas called ‘Municipal Districts’.
• Town Councils will be replaced by new Municipal Districts
• Councillors will be elected simultaneously to Municipal District and County Councils
• The City & County Council in Limerick and Waterford will be merged into a single authority, as will the 2 county councils in Tipperary
•  Council seats will be reduced from 1,627 to no more than 950. The members elected at local level will also represent the district at county level.
•  At regional level, 3 new assemblies will replace the current 10 regional authorities and assemblies.
• The structure of all payments to councillors will be reviewed

Please find below link to the report and the executive summary.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1016/puttingpeoplefirst.pdf

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1016/puttingpeoplefirstguide.pdf