Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If it is appropriate, I suggest we support the County and City Managers Association in calling for more resources in so far as is practicable to ensure there is a standard of maintenance for the long-term interests of the country's infrastructure. There was a specific point about the use of community employment schemes and there is a trade union issue. Without reopening the debate, I believe I am right in arguing that the trade union's view would be that it is the council's obligation to provide staff. We are in a new environment and in the rural areas from where most of us come, there are people willing and able to work on community employment schemes, so it is a no-brainer that there should be some sort of accommodation between unions and local authorities. Could we have a role in that regard in urging participating parties to come together on the issue?