Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

In reply to Deputy Niall Collins's specific questions, the designate interim manager will become the manager in 2014 and the period of that person's appointment is seven years with an option to extend to ten years. These are the normal provisions for such a post.

In reply to Deputy Stanley's questions about the extension of the time period for Limerick Regeneration, this is proposed to be a relatively short extension in order to tidy up matters that need to be addressed. However, I do not agree, and I believe many locals would also not agree to a further extension of time. I will not go into detail because it has been well aired but one of the problems with Limerick Regeneration was the fact that it was under different headings. It will now be centred in one office and this is considered to be a welcome development. It is not proposed to extend the time period any further.

On the question of the deputy manager, this is normal procedure whereby a person may deputise for the manager if necessary and it is the procedure in all local authorities. The Bill is not changing this procedure.

All the Deputies who contributed asked whether this reform of local government would be applied beyond Limerick and Tipperary. They asked about the timescale and whether there would be cost savings and whether services could be shared. I confirm that services can be shared in the meantime and this is part of the recommendations of the 2010 report of the local government efficiency review group to which Deputy Healy referred. That report made a number of recommendations, 106 in total and one of those recommendations is the possibility of amalgamating a number of counties. Views differ on this recommendation and this is the case even in the Chamber today, with Deputy Stanley not happy with the idea that the two counties in his area would be amalgamated. Deputy Healy advocates an amalgamation of Carlow and Kilkenny-----

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