Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I am anxious to have a local government reform package to recommend to the House in the autumn. That will include some of the major recommendations in the various efficiency reports and in the McCarthy report to reduce payroll costs. I remind the Deputy that the number of local government staff has been reduced by 6,600 in the past two years. That is a very significant contribution to the overall reduction in public sector staff - in fact, it is 30%. Much work is being done to protect front line services and to enhance them if we possibly can and to look at the management side of the local government system to see how we can make efficiencies there.

There are a number of recommendations on how we can end motor tax gapping. I will bring forward proposals later this year which will probably require legislation to close the gap where people declare vehicles are off the road for a month. That gap will be closed in order to bring additional revenue into the local authority. Over-the-counter and full financial recovery of planning fees have been identified in the report and are under active consideration. I expect to have a package of measures to bring to the House in October.

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