Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

It is also possible, however, to reinvent the poor law union and have the outlying area included by combining the town councillors with the relevant county electoral area councillors. That seems to me to be an attractive option in provincial Ireland. All these options are possible under the legislation. The Minister will need to draw up guidelines to accommodate a degree of local choice with a degree of national uniformity in this matter so that a fit to meet needs and requirements can be designed for the different parts of the country.