Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Everybody should feel free to come to Kerry.

I greatly welcome the emphasis the Minister is putting on training and the empowerment of councillors. That aspect has been sadly neglected for years. I also welcome the fact the Minister is disposed - I hope I am informed correctly in this regard - to an arrangement whereby the chairman of local community development committees and strategic policy committees will be a councillor rather than an official or some other non-elected person.

I have long held the view that there was a degree duplication - although that might not be exactly the right word - within the local government system. I was never of the view, for the example, that towns deserved to have planning authorities separate from counties.