The Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Cullen, said yesterday he wished to reform "the entire process of local government", including its funding basis. That could be best achieved by separating central and local government, Mr Cullen said.
He also indicated that directly-elected mayors would not be introduced until five years after the ending of the dual mandate.The plan was to end the dual mandate for sitting TDs and senators, Mr Cullen said on Radio Kerry in Tralee, prior to speaking to councillors about the National Spatial Strategy.
It was not clear if there would be a decision this week, Mr Cullen said. Views differed and the matter will be discussed with his Cabinet colleagues today.
On the question of a compensation package for Oireachtas members who give up their local authority seats, Mr Cullen said those who did not go forward for re-election in 2004 were entitled to a package of €7,600.
If there was to be a separation, it had to be recognised "people are going to give up an income and a livelihood, there should be some small financial recognition. I don't think anybody in any walk of life would dispute that". He was not proposing something major, "the finances would not permit that".
The ending of the dual mandate was a small part of his agenda for local government. "I would like to reform the entire process of local government. The funding basis of local government needs a lot of looking at," he said.
The principle of a directly-elected chair was a good one. The executive functions that directly-elected mayors have in the Continent were not included in the present proposals, he said, and he would like to see much more fundamental reform of the office.
"If the decision is to end the dual mandate, that will be the biggest and most fundamental change in the government system in this country since the foundation of the State," Mr Cullen said.
Many new people would be brought into local authority structures and many experienced people would be leaving it, and they should have a term of office (five years) to get used to the new system before the directly-elected mayors are introduced.
If directly-elected chairs were to be introduced, he would like to see "a much stronger role and more executive authority".
The National Spatial Strategy was "a generational thing" and not something short term, Mr Cullen emphasised. It would roll out over at least 20 years of budgets and estimates, and at least three national development plans.
While it was not feasible to stop Dublin growing altogether, the idea was to stop growth in the east and halt decline in the west.
"It's not perfect . . . it is the best we could have done given all the circumstances," Mr Cullen said of the strategy.