Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

As regards amateur dramatics, the stage is still going strong here in the Seanad.

I wish to raise an issue concerning local government and the specific proposal in the Putting People First policy document to abolish town councils in 2014. In that context, I am concerned about the issue of the renewal of town development plans. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, it is a requirement of every local authority town council to begin the process of renewing the plan after four years of the six-year term. Many town councils across the country have commenced plans in recent months which will never come into play because of the proposal to abolish said councils. These plans cost money, time and resources which cash-strapped town councils can ill afford. All of these elements of time, money and manpower will be wasted because the plans will never come to fruition. In that context, I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will establish how many town councils are at this particular stage of their town development plans and furthermore, if he will amend the Planning and Development Act of 2000 to ensure that the current development plans extend up to the local elections of 2014. This will save a massive amount of money across the State, both for local authorities and the Exchequer.