Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Landy and others mentioned the considerable concern of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities regarding the need for greater constitutional protection for local government. The changes in the Bill do not impinge on the constitutional position. The Constitution does not specify the details of the type of local government structures we must have in this country. Those details are provided for by means of legislation rather than in the Constitution. Our Constitution is a broad framework document.

It does not get into very detailed specifics. To put people's minds at rest, a monitoring committee of the Council of Europe at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities recently reviewed local government in Ireland. Its report acknowledged a number of positive developments in respect of local government, particularly the Government's commitment to expand local government's responsibilities and remit. Contrary to what might have been reported in the media which sometimes does not get it right, I will read an extract of comments from the report on the proposed changes. It states:

The existing 80 town councils whose replacement by municipal district councils accounts for the quoted reduction on councillor numbers together represent 14% of the population of Ireland. The reduction can be considered to be warranted both in terms of eliminating duplication and in the context of a public service reform and consolidation generally.

The report also stated:

In the rapporteurs' opinion, the structural changes are a positive element of the proposed reform, as it provides a solution to an unfair situation whereby those living in towns had two votes as compared to the rural areas which had one. It also simplifies the structure. These changes are also expected to be followed by other important steps, including greater subsidiarity, avoidance of duplication, a review of boundaries, better representational balance between urban and rural areas and a cohesive administrative/executive reorganisation.

Contrary to what people might think, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is very supportive of what we are trying to do.