James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following:

conscious of:

—the Government's failure to live up to its commitment to provide adequate funding for local authorities to make up for abolished local rates;

—the impact of stealth taxes;

—the severe inadequacy of the current system of funding;

—the Government's failure to provide for environment schemes on a local level by not providing adequate funds for sewerage schemes;

—the huge burden on Irish businesses and services created by universal increases in commercial rates and the consequent effects on the competitiveness of Irish businesses;

—the major challenge facing local government in revitalising people's interest and involvement in local democracy;

calls on the Government to:

—fulfil its commitment to provide adequate funding to local authorities since the abolition of rates;

—ensure the future funding of local authorities in order to stem over-dependency on central Government and central Government's control of finance;

—to immediately implement a properly-funded system of local democracy;

—give adequate power to elected representatives on local authorities to take all decisions on day-to-day matters, since they are closest to the citizens; and

—to allow local government to be focused on areas such as housing, sewerage, roads, infrastructure, fire services, preservation of environment and recreational facilities.

The amendment refers to "the Government's failure to provide for environment schemes on a local level by not providing adequate funds for sewerage schemes". Water schemes have not been adequately funded either and the Minister will know more about this when he visits Longford this week.

This lame-duck Government's self-glorification is, at the least, boringly repetitive and, at worst, an indictment of its inability to match its empty words with action.