Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Eventually it was done. I know that significant improvements are coming. It took ages to get County Kilkenny to move away from the focus on Kilkenny City.

There are other instances of local authorities working together, where both local authorities co-operate.

My central point is that the Minister has changed the structure of local government. By abolishing the town councils, their functions will be automatically assumed into the county council structure, but that does not mean they will be carried out more cost effectively. I concur with the Minister's point on reducing the burden on small businesses but he will acknowledge that a plethora of charges have been heaped on small businesses over the years. I can give examples in my own area, New Ross, but I can speak on behalf of all the town council in County Wexford. There are four major towns with four major local authorities and in the towns we were consistently well below the rate to be applied to businesses as distinct from the rate applied by the county councils.