Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a simple matter that arises from a scenario whereby, through good management and prudent administration, Leixlip Town Council has achieved savings over the past number of years. We all subscribe to that as being important, progressive and admirable in the present climate. There are those of us who suggest that should have applied more in the past. The town council, having accumulated savings of approximately €300,000, would like to spend the money in its administrative area but because, I presume, of the proposed abolition of town councils, that is not in accord with departmental policy and, as a result, the town council is concerned about this. The town councillors, naturally, want to spend the money in their area because they feel they have adequate and important capital projects that require this expenditure.

Apropos of nothing, in general I do not agree with the principle that taxation should be spent where it is raised. That is unconstitutional. However, in the case of an authority at local level that has done its job well and achieved savings for a particular purpose, it is difficult to explain why it should not be allowed to spend that money. It is unfair. The only reason is the change in the administrative areas in the proposal to abolish town councils, notwithstanding their replacement by extra membership on local authorities.

I ask the Minister to consider the situation because of the good management of the authority in question. We must recognise what it has done so far and acknowledge its good management and practice in keeping with the best international traditions. Would it be possible to allow the town council to spend the money on the capital projects and programmes it has identified that would be of benefit to the local community, rather than spending the money in the wider amorphous area that will exist after the local elections?

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