Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That does not sound very convincing and 300 town councillors are effectively losing their jobs.

We must repopulate the high streets, town centres and neighbourhood centres as community hubs, with more housing, education, arts, entertainment, business office space, health and leisure, and some shops. I am on the same wavelength as my two colleagues and totally support them, but I see the other side as well because the large multiples provide jobs. Tesco, alone, employs approximately 15,000 people.

Every town council or local authority should have a plan in place every five years for the development of the town centre, and each year it should refer to that plan and see if it is working. It should assess the plan and how it is proceeding. There is a deluge of life away from the towns, such as those mentioned by Senator Whelan.