James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I certainly agree with the Deputy. As someone who has served on a town council and a county council, I am a great believer in local democracy. We will be strengthening the role of county councillors throughout the country. We will be setting up a task force soon which will report quickly to ensure that councillors have their role to be able to hold officials to account where they are not meeting the standards. While we have highly capable officials throughout this country, there are times when perhaps the focus is not put on those key equality issues that should be. I certainly intend to ensure that happens. We will look at the funding piece as well in the context of local authorities. I will certainly pursue this matter.

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