Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I referred in my question to the work done by Mark Callanan, Ronan Murphy and Aodh Quinlivan, who are well known experts in the area of local government. The international evidence they have gathered suggests there is limited potential for economies of scale beyond populations of 15,000 to 20,000. These are not people I would dismiss out of hand. I accept that it might be advantageous to manage expenditure in areas such as information technology and human resources. It is disappointing that the regional authorities will be selected from the counties rather than directly elected. If they are not elected they will be irrelevant. This is a missed opportunity.

I agree that we have to operate as efficiently and cheaply as possible but a major reform of this nature must take the long view. Saving money cannot be the sole focus. That has been the predominant theme thus far, however. One of the areas in which it is claimed that money will be saved is through the abolition of town councils. I have previously argued that some of the smaller local authorities should have been abolished years ago but larger town councils have played a positive role in local government. Their role appears to be misunderstood. Having served on a town council for many years, I think that is a pity. I question whether the savings claimed in the document will in fact be delivered. I have previously argued that the number of regional authorities should be reduced to three but I would like have functions beyond an oversight role because there is much to be achieved.

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