Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the way it works at present, before the enactment of this legislation, in essence the county manager will take soundings at area level in most cases and will try to include some of the suggestions when framing the budget. I have always thought the very fact that all the resources more or less reside in the control of the county manager, who has the control of and responsibility for the staff, puts the councillors at a disadvantage in respect of the information available. I do not see how this will change, and as for the change in culture in respect of councillors taking responsibility, most of the work must still be undertaken by the officials.

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