Mr. Des Dowling:

The staffing issue is associated with existing office structures. There are different staffing levels in each authority, which have developed incrementally over time. They are a function of a variety of matters, including the authority's capacity to fund local services based on its own resources and the extent to which particular functions have been a priority for the elected council concerned. The issue is the degree to which the current factual position can be made as even as possible within the existing structures. Due to the approach that will be taken, we are building on existing town structures and dealing with existing hinterlands. That gives the potential to draw on existing resources, so there should not be a huge mismatch between staffing and resources at municipal level, which can then be integrated into an overall county-based approach. We are drawing heavily on what is already there, while hopefully filling in gaps where they exist.