Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegation. They have a very important contribution to make in local government reform and they are making it. I acknowledge the input of staff in local authorities around the country under the county managers' leadership and how they have adapted to the challenges. I know the pressures on the ground regarding reduced budgets and the implementation of new reforms. It has been a difficult period for local authorities and the huge effort that has gone in around the country has not gone unnoticed. I hope the CCMA delegates will pass that on to their members.

I have a slightly different view on Irish Water than my colleagues. Previously, local authorities depended on funding from central Government for various water projects but there are new investment opportunities now for the Irish water system. The county managers will still have a very important role in delivering water services and maintenance through their SLAs. Could they explain further how that works and how they see it working in the future? Councils are working with their hands tied behind their backs regarding budgets for managing water services and assets. They wait for a grant assistance which is sometimes very late and are often managing by firefighting.

I see an opportunity for Irish Water to raise investment and still work with the local authorities and manage the water asset in a more integrated and systematic way. That is possibly a good thing and I would like the witnesses to comment on how this is progressing.

I note with interest the comment regarding the appointment of the new CEOs and the veto element. The witnesses might elaborate a little about their concern in this regard. I presume it is connected to the fact an independent commission will appoint the CEO but it then needs further approval by the elected council. They might let us know if this need for double approval is their main concern and whether we should work to amend this in the legislation.

Some resistance has occurred in debate over the refund rate on vacant properties, an issue we discussed with the Local Authority Managers Association. This rate applies in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Where a vacant property exists, there is a 50% collectable refund, and my understanding is that some local authorities want that but some resist it. I would like to hear the views of the CCMA. Perhaps it would be a solution to devolve that power to local authorities and let them decide themselves whether they want to collect it or whether it is suitable in their area rather than imposing it on local authorities right across the country as is currently proposed in the Bill. I would like to hear the witnesses' views on whether a devolved function for each local authority might be a solution.