Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

I support the calls for a debate on the delivery of services. The post office has been mentioned. Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the delivery of services at local government level and the funding of local government? At a recent meeting of North Tipperary County Council, the county manager stated that he could not deliver the service to which councillors and the people of North Tipperary were entitled because of lack of funding. The councillors were dealing with the planning process, the bane of the lives of all public representatives. The county manager was prevented from hiring additional staff to provide a proper planning service because of the Government embargo on recruitment. Is that a satisfactory state of affairs during an unprecedented economic boom?

Without stealth taxes and local charges imposed on those in rural areas we would have a crisis in local government. At the 11th hour, planners must seek additional information or issue a refusal because they do not have enough time to deal with all planning matters. This is disgraceful and the public deserves better. I call for a debate and for the Minister to debate the delivery, quality and funding of local government services.