S.I. No. 256/2024 - Local Government (Audit Committee) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 31st May, 2024.

I, ALAN DILLON, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by: Sections 4 and 122 (as amended by section 59 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 (No. 1 of 2014)) of the Local Government Act, 2001 (No. 37 of 2001) (as adapted by the Housing, Planning and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020 (S. I. No. 408 of 2020); and, the Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2024 ( S.I. No. 234 of 2024 ), hereby make the following regulations:

Citation and Commencement

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Local Government (Audit Committee) (Amendment) Regulations 2024.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 14 June 2024.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations, “Principal Regulations” means the Local Government (Audit Committee) Regulations 2014 ( S.I. No. 244 of 2014 ).

Amendment of Article 3 of Principal Regulations

3. Article 3 of the Principal Regulations is amended by the insertion of -

““Act of 2024” means the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 ;

“Limerick City and County Council” shall be construed as in accordance with subsection (3) of section 11 of, and Part 3 of Schedule 5 to, the Local Government Act 2001 ;

“Mayor” has the meaning assigned to it by section 9 of the Act of 2024;

“Príomh Comhairleoir” has the meaning assigned to it by section 22 of the Act of 2024;

“director general” has the meaning assigned to it by section 26 of the Act of 2024;

“Cathaoirleach” shall, in the case of Limerick City and County Council, be read as “Príomh Comhairleoir”;

“Chief Executive” shall, in the case of Limerick City and County Council, be read as “director general”.”

Amendment of Article4 of Principal Regulations

4. Article 4 of the Principal Regulations is amended by the addition of the following paragraph in sub-article (4):

“(vii) holds the position of Mayor in Limerick City and County Council.”

Amendment to Article 9 of Principal Regulations

5. Article 9 of the Principal Regulations is amended by the substitution of the following paragraph (f):

“(f) the review of relevant findings and recommendations of the National Oversight and Audit Commission and the response of the Chief Executive, and, where applicable, in the case of Limerick City and County Council, the Mayor, to such findings and recommendations; and take further action as appropriate; and

Amendment to Article 11 of Principal Regulations

6. Article 11 of the Principal Regulations is amended by the substitution of the following sub-article (2):

“(2) The audit committee shall meet separately at least annually with—

(a) the Local Government Auditor,

(b) employees of the internal audit unit of the local authority,

(c) the Chief Executive, and

(d) as appropriate to his or her functions, in the case of Limerick City and County Council, the Mayor.”

Amendment to Article 15 of Principal Regulations

7. Article 15 of the Principal Regulations is amended by the substitution of the following sub-article (2):

“(2) On completion of the report prepared under paragraph (1), it shall be the duty of the Chairperson to send copies to the Chief Executive, in the case of Limerick City and County Council, to the Mayor, and to the local authority for consideration at the next practicable meeting.”

GIVEN under my hand,

29 May 2024

ALAN DILLON

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations amend the Local Government (Audit Committee) Regulations 2014 to take account of the enactment of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 (No. 7 of 2024).