Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support what has been said by Senator Cullinane. Looking at the shape of the local government system subsequent to this Bill, we will have regional city centres in many of the other regions, for example, Cork, Galway and Dublin. All economic indicators show the south east lagging behind the other regions. Unemployment is consistently high across the region. There is a need for greater attention from State agencies, particularly the IDA, which has neglected the south east, in particular some of its counties, including my own. We have had only a small number of visits from overseas companies in recent years - no more than one per year over the past four or five years. In some years, we have had none. In respect of the removal of Waterford as an administrative centre in its own right, it is the largest city in the region and, as such, could be a focal point which would benefit the region economically and from a developmental point of view.

I do not understand the reason for absorbing it into a county structure, no more than I can understand why Kilkenny would be absorbed. We will deal with this when we comes the dissolution of town councils. Will the Minister give the rationale for this? I see it as being fundamentally disadvantageous to the region. There are often tends to be rivalry between various towns and counties in the region. The administrative elected body of the capital of the region, namely Waterford City Council, has traditions and heritage, is involved in development, and promotes itself and in doing so indirectly promotes the region. If we do not have regional focus and Waterford City Council is removed there will be a loss in the area.

Even though the amendments have been ruled out of order I wonder whether the Minister would be minded to re-examine this matter and include it. There may well be a similar argument for Limerick but I am not sure. I do not have a major difficulty with North Riding and South Riding in Tipperary being amalgamated as it may make a certain amount of sense. The idea behind having a plebiscite in the areas to make the decision is something I will discuss with regard to town councils. This is a good principle and was enshrined in local government in the 2001 Act, if I remember correctly. The councils themselves can initiate a referendum where the people wish to make a particular decision on an issue of importance to them.

I certainly support the sentiments expressed and I genuinely feel the Bill is going in the wrong direction in this regard. Some Senators have spoken about areas losing seats. Wexford has gained 13 extra local authority seats. It is not something for which anybody on any of the councils on which I served in Wexford would wish. Every time a review of local government took place during the 25 years I was a member of the council it made a unanimous submission stating that membership of the council should not increased. This was because there is an appropriate size of membership which facilitates constructive interaction, debate and decision making. Once it goes beyond a certain number it becomes a talking forum rather than a focused decision-making body which holds the administration to account. This is a concern not only of mine but of many people who have taken an interest in local government.