Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

-----and balanced debate. We all deal with local government officials and we know they are courteous and efficient, by and large. The local authority system was established 112 years ago and long-standing practices require reform. Like my colleague, Deputy Áine Collins, I never served on a local authority. However, I contend that the abolition of the dual mandate was a mistake. The connection between national and local government was lost. Many of those who served under the dual mandate had the ability to bring issues and concerns arising in local authority meetings to the attention of the Oireachtas. The local authorities were then left adrift and the establishment of regional authorities added to the drift. The role and importance of local authorities in the daily lives of communities cannot be overstated. They provide guidance and funding to local and community groups. The proposed reform of local government must provide a connection between local and national government. The abolition of the town councils will not make any difference because they are probably the most effective local authority bodies and some town councils are progressive and bring in a balanced budget. They encourage enterprise centres and play a positive role in the life of the town. I support the commercial ratepayers in towns and those who contribute to the coffers of the local authorities. Retail centres in towns must attract the people from the hinterland so that they spend money in the towns rather in the cities. I suggest the Department should be very cautious about changing the planning regulations regarding large retail outlets. It has been demonstrated in Britain and elsewhere that these large retail outlets have caused the closure of the smaller retailers in towns. Policymakers over the years have made decisions that have resulted in small, sustainable rural communities dying out. The Minister needs to take great care to ensure those regulations do not cause the death of provincial towns and that these are protected. The legislation on household charges under discussion must ensure that the most vulnerable, those on low incomes and in receipt of social welfare, those who do not have the ability to pay, are exempt from the charge. I urge the Minister that his reform of local government should preserve the best practices of local government as well as rooting out those which are no longer suitable for this century and that any lifting of planning restrictions will not cause further suffering in small and provincial towns.

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