Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Following the recent local elections there are now approximately 1,000 new men and women working away in their new councils on matters relevant to the council, committee work, representation on education boards, regional forums and so on. They will also have to take on additional work because there are no longer any town councils and the regions are larger and will be far more difficult and costly for them to service. It is surprising, therefore, that on the day the results were announced the Minister, Deputy Hogan, announced swinging cuts in subsistence and travel expenses for county councillors. In my view, that was the most unseemly and untimely act of all time. There is no such thing any more as a part time councillor. Most people, including the Cathaoirleach who came up through that system, know well that a councillor's job is a full time job that deserves full pay and pension, contributory or otherwise.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Hogan, to the House to outline the duties of these new councillors and their entitlements. I look forward to putting in place a proper regime of rewards and payments for them.