Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Yes. That figure says a great deal about the reality. Various ideas have arisen here. One is the idea of having a sanction hanging over councils whereby if a council does not spend its budget, sanctions will be put in place against the council on other fronts. There is also the idea that the powers be removed from the councils entirely and given to another entity whose job would be to do what is necessary and address the problems. I believe there would have to be some form of democratic accountability and input in that regard, but if we are at the stage where we must consider that then let us do so. The situation that has pertained for years has reached a point now where these issues must be addressed as a matter of urgency.