Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If he would speak the truth and read the report that would be welcome.

I welcome the report. As we are aware, the action programme Putting People First was launched by the Minister, Deputy Hogan, in October and it will bring about the most fundamental improvements to our local government system in many years.

The programme represents a radical reform plan that will bring local government into the 21st century. This new programme will bring about the necessary reforms designed to increase efficiencies of local government - I did not hear the word "efficiencies" mentioned earlier. We do not want many offices located around the place but efficient local government that will ensure taxpayers' money is translated into the services people expect and deserve in their local areas. It is also in keeping with the commitments in the programme for Government to deliver local services efficiently, cost effectively and democratically.

The vision in the report, and it is my vision, is of a system of local government based on strong local democracy, community spirit and citizen empowerment allied to effective and cost efficient service delivery.

In pursuit of reform over the years we have seen an agenda of reductionism in local government as opposed to real reform. We have had tinkering with local government and to date no real attempt has been made to reform it. We now have reform. We have seen powers and functions removed from local authorities, and I did not hear Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill say anything about that. In the years I sat on the council I did not see any reform; I saw only powers being removed. In this programme power is being given back at district and more local level.