51. The Principal Act is amended by substituting the following for section 136:

“136. (1) Without prejudice to section 105, 135, 137 or 138, where relevant, a chief executive shall, whenever requested—

(a) by an elected council of a local authority for which he or she is the chief executive or by its Cathaoirleach,

(b) by municipal district members of a local authority for which he or she is the chief executive or by the Cathaoirleach of a municipal district,

(c) by a strategic policy committee of a local authority for which he or she is the chief executive or by its chairperson,

(d) by a local community development committee of a local authority for which he or she is the chief executive or by its chairperson, or

(e) by a joint body for which he or she is the chief executive, or by its chairperson,

afford to the council, municipal district members, Cathaoirleach, committee, chairperson or joint body concerned (as the case may be) all information that may be in the possession or procurement of such chief executive in regard to any act, matter or thing relating to or concerning any business or transaction of such local authority, municipal district members, committee or joint body (as the case may be) which is mentioned in the request.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), on or before the seventh day of each month, or such other date in each month set by resolution of the council, the chief executive shall prepare a report, to be known as the management report, in relation to the performance of his or her executive functions during the preceding calendar month, including implementation of policy or other matters required by the council in the exercise of its reserved functions, and the provision of services by the council, and shall on the set day furnish a copy of the management report to each member of the local authority.

(3) The Minister may prescribe by regulations—

(a) the form and content of the management report,

(b) the co-ordination of the management report with such other reporting requirements in this or in any other enactment as may be so prescribed,

(c) the provision for certain elements of the management report, including information provided pursuant to subsection (5), being reported on a quarterly basis or such other basis as may be specified.

(4) The Minister may issue general policy guidelines for the purposes of subsections (2), (3) and (5) and local authorities shall comply with any such guidelines.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (3) and (4) and the requirements of section 126D in respect of any report which the local authority is the subject of, the management report shall include information on the steps taken in relation to any relevant report of the National Oversight and Audit Commission.

(6) In respect of management reports not considered at a meeting of the local authority, such reports shall be on the agenda of the next appropriate meeting of the local authority for consideration.

(7) In this section ‘quarterly basis’ means a period of 3 consecutive months ending on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September or 31 December in any year.”.