John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

The McCarthy reported identified €500 million in savings. The Minister hopes to collect €160 million. Why not reform the structures of local government to put a more efficient system in place so that he does not have to take more money from the same people? The Members opposite - the same could be said about the previous Government - are afraid to touch the structures and vested interests in local and national government in order to achieve greater value for money.

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