Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The section provides for the dissolution of the city and county development boards that were consequential on transitional matters arising from the dissolution. I am disappointed that the Minister has taken this initiative. In the context of having the widest possible democratic accountability, the county and city development boards represented a very good model for embracing all the social and economic aspects of the administrative areas in which they operated. I served on the county development board in Leitrim through my connection with child care. It provided a very good platform for the social, economic and cultural activities within the county. I appreciate that the Minister is establishing - they have already been established in many cases - the economic and social committees within the local authorities which go some way towards addressing the same model as the county development boards. However, I believe the new initiative is a very poor substitute for the county and city development boards, which were very inclusive. I am disappointed that another aspect of local democracy is, in a sense, being demolished.