Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The issue of the cap on spending in local elections has not come before the Cabinet yet, but I will ask the Minister to revert directly to the Deputy on it. New legislation is required for the amalgamation of the 31 agencies and we are currently considering whether it will be possible to have omnibus legislation or whether individual Bills will be required. That has not been finalised and we await the consideration of the Attorney General on the matter. With regard to the writ for the by-election, no date has been decided.

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