Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Pearse Doherty raised the issue of local authorities. He is correct. The Bill states that the charge will be a charge on the local authority and then, if the local authority decides to absorb that charge, and some local authorities still are in a position to absorb charges, then it is free to do so. If, on the other hand, the local authorities want to pass it on, if it is a reserve function, it will be a responsibility of the elected members to do so.

When I was a member of a local authority, it was a reserve function. If that has been transferred to management, or transferred over and back, what is local government about?

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