Denis Landy (Labour)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. I cannot let the opportunity past without responding to my learned colleague, Senator Quinn who, on the one hand, criticised the number of local authority elected members in the country and, on the other, referred to England as a good example of the way local government operates there. He also referred to the system in France. For his information, for every 130 citizens in France, there is an elected representative. Also, in Great Britain the Conservative Government last year re-introduced parish councils with statutory powers because of the failure of local people to engage in local democracy. Figures of below 30% and, in some cases, just over 20% were recorded in local elections. Therefore, they decided to re-engage with people. Ireland has one of the lowest per capita rates for elected representatives in Europe and to say that we have too many and that this is a cause of inefficiency is a simplistic assessment of the situation. Reference was made to bids and to the best of my knowledge this happens only in Dublin, Cork and perhaps Galway. I wished to clarify these matters prior to making my contribution.

I welcome the legislation in so far as it attempts to deal with the abolition and merger of bodies in the remit of the Minister of State. It proposes a reduction of more than 50% of those listed. I recognise that savings can be made and it is important we make these savings. I support the comments of Senator Keane with regards to An Chomhairle Leabharlanna. My knowledge of the organisation comes from almost a quarter of a century in local government. It never fed back to local government despite the fact many of its members were elected representatives. As outlined by Senator Keane it eventually became a talking shop. This must not be confused with the fact that the function of libraries throughout the country will remain and they will get stronger under the Government. In my opinion we can do without An Chomhairle Leabharlanna.

I wish to mention the regeneration companies in Limerick. The media suggest regeneration will stop in Limerick because these bodies, which were established in 2007 for five years, will come to an end. Nothing could be further from the truth. I know because of the Minister of State drive to ensure the work continues that it will do so.

The main thrust of the section on local government gives power to the Minister to allow a manager to operate for two local authorities, namely, south and north Tipperary and Limerick city and council. My colleague, Senator Heffernan, will speak about Limerick but in the case of Tipperary, which is where I am from and I know a great deal of detail about it, an implementation body was established last year which consulted very widely with staff and their representatives. However, consultation with elected members has been in stark contrast, with only one joint meeting of the two local authorities to discuss the matter. The whips of each political group in the county have met on a number of occasions but not at minuted meetings. Rather they have had casual discussions and conversations. Much more information needs to be provided to members in the areas.

I concur with Senator Mooney's comments on the urgency to deal with the local authorities in north and south Tipperary and Limerick city and county prior to the Constituency Commission's report on Dáil constituency boundaries and electoral areas. Local councillors in Tipperary and Limerick have been kept in the dark and they do not know what will happen in their areas. They do not know whether the area they represent now will remain in the same electoral area. It is quite unfair they were picked out ahead of the changes to be made. The cart has been put before the horse.

The Minister of State knows my views and will not be surprised to hear me say local government should be strengthened. The role of local government at town level should be enhanced and strengthened. I have made it quite clear I do not concur with the views of Senator Quinn and others who stated we have too many councillors. We have a great system of local democracy, albeit many powers have been stripped down. The role of local government should be enhanced and I do not subscribe to the view that if we had fewer councillors would have more efficiency. The cost of elected members in any local authority per annum is approximately 0.01% of the cost of running the local authority. Those who say fewer councillors would mean more efficiency are not speaking about economic efficiency. Most have their own agendas with regard to rezoning and as far as they are concerned the fewer councillors they have to deal with the better.

The implementation group established in County Tipperary was supposed to present its report to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on 31 May but I understand this has not yet been done. When this is done and a decision is being made on local government, particularly with regard to boundary changes, we should be given an opportunity to debate it in the House with either the Minister of State or the Minister, Deputy Hogan. We deserve this because it involves our electorate and we should be able to discuss it first hand with people throughout the country. During the referendum campaign I met many councillors from all parties. Many of them asked about local government reform and what it would mean for them. Everybody is concerned about his or her own area. Every Deputy and Senator is concerned about the boundary commission report. It is a topic of discussion.