Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am a great advocate for autonomy and for councillors to be autonomous. However, I have seen examples across the country of councillors abusing that autonomy and I have no problem in saying so. They were whittling away at that base and left their councils bereft of funding. Our neighbouring County Louth would be a prime example.

Can Mr. John McCarthy explain the local government innovation and reform figure under the LGMA heading in the statement of income? In the 2017 accounts, it went from €3.8 million to €2.1 million.