Dublin mayor to have no budget

There will be no discretionary budget for the directly-elected mayor of Dublin, according to draft legislation on the planned new office published today.

The mayor's principal role will be to generate policy for land-use planning, including housing, as well as for waste management and water services.

Where a local authority is acting in a manner inconsistent with such policy, the mayor may direct it to comply.

The draft Bill, being published by Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley, is not specific in relation to the widely-expected mayoral powers over the region's transport policy.

Instead, it promises only a "key role" for him or her. This follows the replacement in December of the Dublin Transport Authority by the National Transport Authority, to which a new chairman has already been appointed.

The mayor will act as both chairman and a member of a 16-member regional authority that will have a number of roles, including adopting plans proposed by the mayor, holding the mayor accountable and providing a direct link between the mayor and local authorities.

Some 30 personnel will staff the office of the mayor and the regional authority. They will include five senior policy advisers and a chief executive officer to be appointed by the mayor.

Five of the 16 members of the authority will come from Dublin City Council and two each from the other three local authorities. The remaining three seats will be filled, ex officio, by the Lord Mayor or Cathaoirleach from the three local authorities.

Under the Bill, the mayor will be obliged to address a meeting at each of the local authorities at least once a year and answer questions.

A new Dublin Regional Development Board, also chaired by the mayor, will replace the four city and county development boards of the Dublin local authorities and will include major public sector, educational and enterprise interests from across the region.

Mr Gormley said the draft Bill was being published now "to allow for further consultation" before it was finalised. He has written to the leaders of the opposition parties inviting them to meet to discuss the proposed Bill.