Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will agree that we have a centralised system and that what I am trying to do is to move some functions from central government and national agencies to local authority level and as close as possible to the people. She will see examples of this in the document. I look forward to working with Deputies on all sides of the House in deciding from the legislation as published on the appropriate functions in order that we can drive through this agenda of reform. We want to have people at local level to participate in and have the power to make these decisions. Funding will always be the most difficult part of this. Where people will raise and spend money at local level, depending on their priorities, it will be difficult. We cannot and do not expect to have meaningful reform of local government until such time as we are able to give people not just the powers but also the responsibility to pay for services as far as possible at local level.

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