Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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First, it is clear that the local government fund has been decimated in the past four years and that we are down to the bone at this stage. The flawed needs and resources model was used to create a base line for the needs of people. Has a base line been determined by the Department on what local authorities require? Clearly, issues such as non-discretionary pay would have to be included in that.

Second, last year the Minister advertised to the effect that people who paid the €100 charge would be paying for the upkeep of their libraries, grass cutting and so on but in reality it was to replace the money withdrawn from the local authorities to allow them pay wages and so on. It was damaging to give the impression that the money would be used for some additional purpose.

Third, staffing in the public service has been cut back over several years and the Minister said it has reached its level for 2015. There is an intention to further reduce staffing in the public service, and that is to be done in a more targeted way. Will that include local authorities and, if so, will there be an assessment of needs within those local authorities-----