Ms Geraldine Tallon:

I do not think so. County Galway has a large rural area and people will be dispersed. In the past couple of years local authorities have been looking at the organisation of staff.

It is one of the issues of concern when we are engaged in workforce planning. Traditionally local authorities have tended to be organised in three, four or five areas and staff have worked within these areas. We are now looking at the collapse of the area based organisation, with staff potentially working a greater distance from base. That is an argument for the continuation of the eating on-site allowance because staff may be more remote from their base. It promotes productivity and an effective use of the working day.