Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy did not mention the fact that I have increased the numbers. I know she is looking at the issue from the point of view of the glass being half empty. An increase in the number of councillors from 25 to 40 is not bad and reflects the population. On the previous occasion when the boundaries were looked at, the Minister of the day told the local authorities to examine the boundaries themselves without changing the overall figures. I set up an independent commission to do this work, based on certain criteria. There is the notion that local authorities had an input, they made submissions but that was it. For the first time in many years, the local boundary commission looked at the issue independently and arrived at the boundaries involved. I note that Deputy Brian Stanley wants to increase the number of councillors in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown or in Fingal to 69. That is an unwieldy number of councillors. I know they will have a difficulty in Dublin City Council which has 63.