The most radical shake-up of local government in the history of the State will pave the way for the direct election of mayors and county council chairpersons, possibly as early as next summer.
The Local Government Reform Bill, to be published at the end of next month, will also allow for the payment and training of councillors who, under the proposed legislation, will have a more powerful role. It is understood that the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, has not ruled out opening up the election of mayors and chairpersons to people other than council members.
"The possibility that these elections will be open to those who are not elected councillors has not been ruled in or ruled out by the Minister at this stage" a Department source said last night.
The source said it was possible the first elections could take place next year. The term of office of a local authority chairperson or mayor will be extended from one year to two or three years.
The Bill, which is being completed by Department officials, will stop TDs becoming members of local councils from 2004, and will allow for local government elections every five years, as decided in the recent amendment to the Constitution.
The Bill will also introduce new ethics provisions for councillors.
Already, councillors must register any planning interests if they are elected to a local authority, but stricter controls are to be put in place.
The legislation will put on a statutory basis the establishment of strategic policy committees and county and city boards.
These committees will be made up of local councillors, business and development group representatives and will allow for a co-operative approach between local communities and local representatives. The focus will be on power-sharing, with a participatory democracy leading to more involvement of local people.
The establishment of these committees will increase the workload and commitment required of local councillors. Because of this, councillors will no longer be allowed to hold a Dail or Seanad seat from 2004, and they are to receive training when elected to a local authority.
It is understood that the training may be contracted out to management training agencies.
"They will require more skills with their new roles. It has not been worked out exactly what the training will involve," said a Department source.
The pay scale for councillors has not yet been decided but will "reflect the position and the enhanced role of councillors in the future".
"This Bill will require more involvement of councillors, more skills and a different way of approaching their business. If we are going to expect that level of performance from them they should be trained."
There are approximately 1,600 councillors in the State.
Mr Dempsey said earlier this year that a reform of local government to give power back to councillors was a priority.