Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

As the word "miscellaneous" in the Bill's Title indicates, many issues are covered in the Bill. However, the issue on which I want to focus is the proposed merger of councils on foot of the recommendations of the local government review group. If I had never been a councillor and was just a member of the public listening to the plan to merge councils, I would probably think this was a good idea. The logic would be that judging by what one reads in the newspapers about councils and about them never doing any good, the fewer of them there are the better. However, having been a county councillor I would see that as flawed logic. It sounds logical to reduce the number of councils and cut costs, but without real reform, this will make little or no difference.

For example, if one merges north and south Tipperary councils or Roscommon and Mayo councils, all one is doing is the equivalent of joining the half of two rotten apples together on the basis that one will get one wonderful pristine apple. One will not get that. All one will get is two halves of an apple that will rot more quickly. That will not solve any problems. Real local government reform means creating an environment where accountability becomes the core guiding principle. The Minister would probably agree with that, but I would be wary as to whether he will ever do anything to achieve it. I urge him to prove me wrong and hope he does so.

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