PUBLICATIONS OF LAOIS COUNTY COUNCIL ALREADY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC Annual Financial Statement: Laois County Council must publish an Annual Financial Statement within twelve weeks of the end of the calendar year. Prior to an audit of accounts by the Local Government Auditor, a notice is published advising the public of opportunities to examine the accounts of Laois County Council within a specified period. Copies of the Annual Financial Statement are available at a nominal fee. Estimate of expenses: There is a requirement that all Local Authorities must hold an Annual Budget Meeting each year. Notice of the intention to hold the meeting to consider the Budget is published in the press not less than seven days before the meeting is held. Copies of the Budget may be inspected or purchased by any member of the public. Annual Report: Not later than 30th June each year, Laois County Council is required to publish and adopt an Annual Report. This report lists the activities of the Council in the previous year. The publication is available in both Irish and English and on request from the Corporate Services Department. Rate Books: The Rate Books for County Laois are open for inspection for a 14 day period prior to the making of the Rate each year. • These books show the Rateable Valuations of properties, the Rate in the Pound and the proposed changes in the Rate Books. • The books may be inspected at Áras an Chontae during the specified period. • Details of the availability of this information for public inspection and the relevant dates are published in the press. 1 The Freedom of Information Acts are designed to allow Public access to information which is NOT routinely available through other sources. Access to information under the Freedom of Information Acts is subject to certain exemptions and involves specific procedure and time limits. THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF LAOIS COUNTY COUNCIL The County of Laois is very strategically located in Ireland. It has a population of 53,000. Portlaoise is the principal town and is the administrative centre of Co. Laois. It is home to several major enterprises including the regional headquarters of Telecom Eireann, the E.S.B. and it’s international training school. The County boasts a diversity of attractions and activities, from the ancient Round Tower of Timahoe, to the elegant magnificence of Emo Court and the wild and lovely isolation of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Laois County Council was established under the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898 and held it’s first meeting in Portlaoise Courthouse in April, 1899. It celebrated it’s centenary in 1999. The Council consists of twenty five elected members representing the five Local Electoral areas of Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Luggacurran, Borris-in-Ossory and Emo. Laois County Council, as the Local Authority for County Laois, provides an extensive range of infrastructural and administrative services and plays an active role in the development of the county’s industrial, business, social, arts, heritage and cultural affairs. It also functions as the regulatory body for a range of matters at local level. Local Authorities perform both a representational and an operational role. This is a reflection of the fact that the Irish system of Local Government encompasses both democratic representation and public administration. 2 REPRESENTATIONAL ROLE The representational role is performed directly by the elected members of the Council. Members of the Council are elected according to the system of proportional representation for a period of five years. The elected members are the governing body of the County Council. The Chairperson known as The Cathaoirleach is elected from the membership of the Council, at the statutory Annual General Meeting of the Council, which is held in either May or June of each year. The wide range of functions performed by the elected representatives are called “Reserved Functions”. The elected representatives and lay down the framework of policy under which the County Manager operates. The “Reserved Functions” include: • The adoption of the Annual Budget. • The making or varying of the County Development Plan (6 yearly). • The adoption of a Scheme of Letting Priorities for Local Authority Housing. • The making, amending and revoking of Bye-Laws. • The approving of the borrowing of money by the Local Authority. The Council makes its decisions by “Resolution” at its meetings, which are usually held on the last Monday of the month. OPERATIONAL ROLE The operational role of Laois County Council is performed by the County Manager and the employees of the Council. They are responsible for the day to day administration of the Council, in accordance with the law and the policies determined by the elected members. The functions carried out by the County Manager are called “Executive Functions”. These functions include: 3 • The letting of houses. • The granting or refusing of applications seeking Planning Permissions. • Matters relating to the employees of the Local Authority. The County Manager makes his decisions by written “Managers Order”. A Register of the Manager’s Orders is maintained by the Council as required by law. Managers Orders made in the previous month are available for inspection by the Elected Members prior to the monthly Council Meeting. The County Manager in making his decisions, must act in a way that is consistent with the policy which has been established by the elected members. Services are provided by Laois County Council under the following broad range of activities which are standard to all Local Authorities. ¾ HOUSING INCLUDING HOUSE BUILDING & ESTATE MANAGEMENT ¾ ROADS ,TRANSPORTATION & SAFETY ¾ WATER SUPPLY & SEWERAGE ¾ PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT ¾ ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ¾ RECREATION & AMENITY ¾ AGRICULTURE , EDUCATION, HEALTH & WELFARE ¾ MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES FUNDING FOR SERVICES The Expenditure of Laois County Council on the provision of its services can be classified under two headings. 4 Revenue (or Current) Expenditure - i.e. the day to day provision of services e.g. housing maintenance, roads maintenance etc. The main sources of funding for this expenditure are: • Government Grants and Subsidies. • Commercial Rates. • Goods and Services (e.g. Housing Rents, Housing Loan repayments, fees and charges for services etc.). Capital Expenditure - i.e. expenditure on creating assets e.g. house building, major road improvement works etc. The main sources of funding for this expenditure are: • Capital Grants from Central Government. • Borrowing. • Other Capital Receipts e.g. Sale of Lands or other assets. HOW THE OPERATIONS OF THE COUNCIL ARE REGULATED The operations of Local Authorities are regulated by • EU Directives. • National Legislation. • Local Legislation i.e. Bye-Laws. • Adopted Policies of the Council. In addition a range of rules, procedures, and guidelines are used by the Local Authority in making its decisions, determinations and recommendations under the many schemes operated by it. A full list of these items is produced in accordance with Section 16 of The Freedom of Information Act, 1997. 5 All of the Council’s activities are subject to the law. Rights of Appeal are specifically identified in relation to many of the Council’s powers and duties and in relation to many of the services provided by it. Decisions of the Council in relation to the Freedom of Information Act are subject to internal review and also to review by the Information Commissioner. Format of records held : Laois County Council holds a wide variety of records in various formats. These include: • Computerised Data - held in a variety of formats. • Computer print-out. • Paper records. This includes all types of forms, reports, maps, drawings etc., • Ledgers and Registers. • Microfilm - Some data is archived on microfilm, particularly where large volumes of paper cause storage problems. • Microfiche. 6 LAOIS COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS Borris-in-Ossory Electoral Area LALOR Michael, Cardtown, Camross. F.G. DELANEY Bill, Knockbrack, Pike of Rushall. F.F. FENNELLY John Joe, Ballymullen, Abbeyleix. F.F. PHELAN Brendan, Glebe House, Donaghmore F.F. PHELAN Martin, Farren Eglish, Ballacolla F.G. KAVANAGH Larry, Rushin, Mountrath Labour BONHAM John, The Courtyard, Dunmore, Durrow. F.G. Emo Electoral Area CRIBBIN Raymond, Main Street, Portarlington F.F. DEEGAN James, Dysart, Stradbally F.G. TURLEY John D., Vicarstown, Stradbally. Non-Party MITCHELL Paul, Lea Road, Portarlington. P.D. Luggagurren Electoral Area RICE Michael, Monavea, Mayo, Crettyard. F.F. DALY James, Garryglass, Timahoe F.G. MORAN John, Ballinagar, Ballylinan, Athy F.G. MILLER Dick, Raheenduff, Timahoe F.F. Portlaoise Electoral Area AIRD William, Nutgrove, Portlaoise F.G. STANLEY Brian, 53 O’Moore Place, Portlaoise Sinn Fein JACOB Thomas, Ard na Greine, Glenside, Portlaoise. Non-Party SWEENEY Mary, Ballyroan, Portlaoise F.G. FITZGERALD Catherine, 44, Cherrygarth, Portlaoise. F.F. LODGE Jeremiah, Ridge Road, Portlaoise F.F. Mountmellick Electoral Area MOLONEY Michael, Cappakeel, Emo. F.F. GOODWIN David, Tineel, Rosenallis F.G. Mc DONALD Seamus, Drummond, Rosenallis F.F. BRACKEN Patrick, Garoon, Mountmellick F.F. 7 Election to the Council The conduct of elections is governed by the Electoral Acts, the Local Government Act, 2001 and the Local Elections Regulations. The most recent Local Election for membership of local authorities took place in June 2004. The next Local Elections are scheduled to be held in 2009. Polling in Local Elections takes place throughout the country on the same day. The exact date for the holding of Local Elections is determined by Ministerial Order. Election to the Council is by proportional representation. Casual Vacancies in membership, caused by death, resignation etc., are filled by the Co-option of a new member onto the Council by the remaining members. Laois County Council is divided into five Local Electoral Areas as follows, Borris-in-Ossory, Emo, Luggacurren, Portlaoise and Mountmellick. Who is entitled to vote in a Local Election? All persons over the age of 18 whether or not they are Irish citizens are entitled to vote at Local Elections, so long as they are registered to vote.