Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader arrange a debate on the funding of local authorities? I have called for such a debate on numerous occasions and it is apt that it should take place now in light of the views expressed yesterday by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, on the abolition of city and county councils. As Senator Cummins observed, the Minister has made statements on this matter on previous occasions. He is the Minister responsible for the mess in which local authorities currently find themselves and now he proposes to abolish them. However, the Minister is correct that local authorities do not have sufficient funding to fill potholes, cut bushes, maintain public lighting and so on. I hope the Leader will facilitate a debate on this issue before Christmas.