Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Change is difficult for everybody. People here say that this is not reform. When one introduces radical and comprehensive reform, which is what is being proposed, one is bound to get considerable opposition to it. There is no question about it. If one is reducing 114 local authorities to 31 city and town councils, many people will be hurt as a result of it. As has been mentioned, organisations in existence for 100 years may have to go out of existence as a result of it. A city council celebrating 110 years next year will no longer be in existence but will be merged with the county. The Minister might spell out what a metropolitan area is.