Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is the first time we have had an opportunity to comment on the announcement on local government reform. From my party's point of view, there is a need to reform local government. We may not agree totally on the nature of the reform but there was a need to deal with the multiplicity of outdated structures. What is important is the powers and functions that we give to what is there, how they operate and the level of accountability.

On the issue of the savings, there is some €830 million saved since 2008 in local authorities' spending. The staffing numbers are down 23% to approximately 28,000. That is the highest fall in any section of the public sector. My concern is the issue of front line staff, that in taking out a quarter the Minister is cutting back well into the bone. At that stage, he is starting to hack away at front line services.

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