Dublin may not get an elected mayor until the autumn and not June as predicted previously, according to Environment Minister John Gormley.
Business leaders in the Capital have expressed disappointment at the continuing delay in setting up the post, which they say is needed urgently.
Dublin businesses say they had a bad 2009 and are fearful for the future.
Peter Brennan, President of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, says the problem is that nobody is responsible for the city politically.
The result is that Dublin has slipped in terms of competitiveness compared to other city regions from fifth to 22nd place over the past six years.
He said Dublin is now a ‘third division’ city instead of being in the ‘premiership’ where it belongs.
The new mayor would have powers over all four Dublin authorities in housing, waste management and water services.
With major transport projects like the Metro North planned, the mayor would also chair the Dublin Transport Authority.
But former city Lord Mayor Cllr Dermot Lacey (Lab) says there is opposition to the new post from a ‘coalition of Fianna Fáil backbenchers and bureaucrats’ who want to ‘stymie’ Dublin.
However, Environment Minister John Gormley says the heads of the bill on Local Government Reform are going to Cabinet next Tuesday, and that Dublin will have a directly elected mayor like London and other cities later this year.
He admitted that this election may not happen in June as previously announced but it would be no later than the autumn.
