Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If councillors or business people in the local area have no formal infrastructure in which to impart experience and help the LEO - the structure outlined by Deputy Calleary - this process will not happen.

The reality is that many councils tolerate their councillors where they have to do so. Unless they have a direct input, there will be a lot of nodding of heads but no real contribution to what is going on.