Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)

The Minister conceded earlier that the household charge is not ideal and that revenue raised in a particular area should be ring-fenced for and spent in that area. I am sure he will agree that this is another example. There were questions earlier about reform of local government. Would he not consider it an integral part of local government reform, if we are to have real and meaningful engagement at local authority level from public representatives, that when elected they be accountable to the electorate for the setting and raising of local charges? We might get people being more responsible in regard to it. This is another example of it. Ultimately, the Minister is sucking the function away from the local authorities and putting it into a stand alone entity. Second, what is the long-term position in regard to all the people who work in the provision of water services for the local authorities?

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