Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

Deputy Catherine Murphy expressed a very interesting view on the notion of the municipality concept with the city and the surrounding hinterland. This is a very lively discussion and there are strong views on all sides. This is limited legislation in so far as it is providing for interim arrangements. It provides for other matters also, including the bodies to which we referred yesterday. As regards local authorities specifically, however, it is merely to provide interim arrangements for both authorities in Limerick and Tipperary.

The local government efficiency review implementation group will be publishing its first report, which will go to the Minister, Deputy Hogan. That will concern much broader recommendations on local government reform.

I am concerned that it is costing so much to amalgamate local authorities in Northern Ireland and I would be interested to know why. The intention, certainly in Limerick, is that it will save money. I hope it will save money in Tipperary as well. I do not know whether it is because of the unique political arrangements in Northern Ireland that it should cost money to amalgamate local authorities there. If there is a lesson to be learned from that, however, we should learn it.

Deputy Catherine Murphy asked if they were pilots but they are not as such. They are specific actions in specific areas and there will be further recommendations in regard to other areas, but they are not in this Bill. Legislation will be required if there are to be further amalgamations. In the context of the forthcoming report and any future legislation, there will be plenty of opportunity to debate all these issues. There will also be extensive consultation if there are further proposals.

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