Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That constitutes how unwise I was to mention Leixlip alone as an example. At the end of the day much more flexibility will come into the system but it will be governed by what happens in Kildare County Council's budgetary process. There was much less flexibility in recent years because the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform needed to know where every euro was being spent. I suspect that in 2014 the county manager will have some more flexibility in terms of allocations to districts.

Some 70 devolved additional functions are being given to municipal districts. Some of those are minor, some major. Many more distinct functions are going to municipal districts. Seven councillors will be looking after the budgetary situation in Leixlip. They will be getting some help from Celbridge, and I know the Deputy will look after them as well, but there will be seven local authority members in a small geographical area with a large population. Obviously, the means and resources Kildare County Council will have, in conjunction with the municipal districts, in sorting out the budgetary arithmetic is a matter for the councils.