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

Seeking efficiencies is not about a diminution of library services in County Leitrim. Let me give the fire service as an example. In Carlow-Kilkenny, Longford-Westmeath, Laois-Offaly or Sligo-Leitrim there is no need to have the higher paid echelons of staff structures in place. We want people to give a service to the general public on a day-to-day basis, we want to keep the services open and to maintain the opening hours. Local government efficiency requires us to do so in the interest of the public. If the working group does its work properly, in consultation with staff and their representatives, I have no doubt it will work out a very good solution that will provide a good service, and a continued good service in places like Leitrim, but equally to minimise the disruption to staff in the process.