Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

I thank the Members for their contributions. There is always a very good, informed debate on local government and Members are interested in the issues. There will be an opportunity for further debate on further legislative measures and when the Minister announces his proposals for the reform of local government.

The Bill is relatively short but it is important to allow the Department to move forward on a number of very significant State agency rationalisations. Many Deputies referred to the opportunity to rationalise and reduce the number of agencies. The Minister will be able to dissolve bodies established under the 1971 Act and to dissolve An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, which was established under its own Act in 1947.

I did not have time earlier to recognise the good work and contribution to our communities made by the bodies established under the 1971 Act. While the Department is reducing the number of agencies, we intend to maintain the services provided by those agencies.

It is important to address the issue of the Bill's role in the amalgamation of local authority structures in Limerick and Tipperary, which were referred to by many contributors. Tomorrow, I will introduce amendments that will enable dual management arrangements to operate in Limerick and Tipperary. This will allow for the appointment of a single manager to both sets of authorities pending their full merger in 2014. It will ensure there is clear and cohesive leadership of the reorganisation process in both areas. I know more about Limerick than Tipperary but I recognise the need for that kind of leadership as we approach 2014. More substantive legislation will be required to implement the merger of the two authorities in Limerick and Tipperary. The situation in Waterford is under examination but no decision on any other mergers has been made at this point. I reject Deputy Healy's criticism of the Minister, Deputy Hogan, in this regard. We are only talking about mergers within counties, not mergers of counties. That discussion is for another day.

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