Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Throughout the 1990s, before there was a salary or a salary-type payment, there is no doubt there was a reliance on this as almost an income stream. In some cases, it was abused and it became an embarrassment. This should have been addressed as soon as a salary was paid but it was not. Some of the local authorities took measures and limits were put in place, which was right. It is positive that a more strategic approach is being taken to training, that it is more localised and that one would have a particular standard. From that point of view, this is a reasonably welcome initiative and I do not have a difficulty with it.