Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Bill will have significant consequences for the constituency I represent as it is an area which will be one of the first to be amalagamated, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes' constituency in the amalgamation of Tipperary South with Tipperary North. Those of us whose constituencies are undergoing such significant changes hope that this will be the kind of change that will ensure services can be delivered more effectively and more efficiently for our constituents.

The establishment of local enterprise offices, LEOs, within the local authority, is to be welcomed. The one-stop-shop approach is a positive development because local businesses or those looking to create local employment often encounter high levels of bureaucratic red tape. I have an issue with regard to the change in the Leader programme and partnerships which are to be brought under the remit of the local authority. There are ongoing difficulties with some community workers who work on these programmes. I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister, Deputy Hogan, to engage with these workers in an effort to find a solution. The people who work in the partnerships and in the Leader programmes all around the country are delivering innovative community-based services. The only way to ensure a successful reform and amalgamation process is by talking to people. I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister to engage with SIPTU and with these workers during the amalgamation process.

Waterford city and county councils are due to amalgamate and we will suffer the loss of three town councils, Lismore Town Council, Dungarvan Town Council - to which I was elected in 2009 - and Tramore Town Council. It is regrettable that the town councils are to be lost considering we are looking for ways in which to engage local people with their communities. There is no better way than by the establishment and the maintenance of town councils. Local communities are proud of their town councils. No one has come to me to express delight that town councils are being done away with. The Minister is establishing community councils as a means of engaging with local groups and communities but one would ask why not leave the town councils in place. Rural communities in particular may feel more disconnected from the bigger urban areas and town councils served a real purpose in providing a bridge between such areas. They have a long history of delivering for their local communities.

I hope that the amalgamated Waterford county and city councils will continue the sterling work of both bodies. I refer in particular to the development of tourism. Bord Fáilte has invested nearly three quarters of last year's capital budget in the beautiful medieval museum in the Viking Triangle. I hope we will be able to continue that work to establish Waterford city and county as a prime tourism destination. The constituency of Waterford has had its difficulties but we are fighting back and tourism will be a key aspect. I encourage Waterford city and county councils to continue their sterling work on tourism and to continue to fight to attract more local and international investment into the constituency in order to create employment.

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