Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I served for many years in local government in Cork County Council. I am very attached to the role of local government, and I commend the role that it has played in rebuilding this country and its infrastructure. Historically, our local authorities were associated with water and sewerage services, but those have gone from their remit. Even the delivery of roads is now sanctioned by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The delivery of housing has been diluted by the use of voluntary associations. Now all they are left with is the housing list. Even refuse collections are gone. They are responsible for amenities, including parks, libraries, and burial grounds, as noted.

The role of Cork County Council must be acknowledged. It has played its part in the greater good of Cork county over the past 100 years. This Bill is contradictory in its nature and purpose. I come from the county of Cork. There is talk of a balanced separation of city and county, yet there are people in other parts of the country, including Galway, who oppose amalgamation. The implementation group came about under a previous Minister, Deputy Kelly, and was followed through by his successor as Minister, Deputy Coveney. It is another example of where Deputy Coveney upped and left a mess, like with housing. He had promised that there would be no more people on the streets of Dublin by July 2017, but now he is gone and the Minister of State present is a sweeper, tidying up the problem he created.

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