Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding the local authority boundaries review. On Tuesday, 17 October 2017, on the question that amendment No. 3 to the motion be agreed to, a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 70(2), that division must be taken now.

Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I move amendment No. 2:

To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:

“notes the importance of local government structures in delivering services, acting as a forum for local democracy and representing local identity;

regrets:

— the abolition of town councils in 2014 and amalgamation of local authorities; and

— that Ireland has one of the highest proportion of citizens to local representatives in the world following the Putting People First reforms of 2014;

confirms that:

— local government structures, funding and responsibilities are explicitly recognised in the Confidence and Supply Arrangement; and

— the Programme for a Partnership Government committed to the publication of a report on local government reform by mid-2017; and

calls on the Government to:

— protect and enhance the core role that local government has in local service delivery and local democracy;

— expedite the passing of the Local Government Reform (Amendment) (Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin) Bill 2016 through the Oireachtas;

— re-establish town councils in appropriate urban areas;

— devolve new powers to local authorities;

— strengthen the hierarchy of plans from the National Planning Framework downwards and in tandem with other national development plans to ensure coherent spatial planning across the country; and

— complete processes currently underway in relation to local authority boundary changes and ensure local views are fully taken into account.