Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Bradford instanced the people outside Charleville vis-à-visthe people near County Waterford, and I can understand that. That is a matter of the drawing of a boundary map. It is not an argument, however, to bring back local town councils.

I served on a local authority in Tipperary. The duplication between county and town councils was unbelievable, as was the waste of time and energy. Officials at county level would address one meeting in the morning and then go on to address the town council that same night. The amount of time taken up by officials was unbelievable and totally at variance with the delivery of services. This is about the delivery of service to the people. The purpose of local authorities is to deliver a better service.

Senator Bradford can signal what he likes but I have a real belief that what is happening in the new structures represents a major improvement on what was in place. For example, let us consider the towns of Cahir and Cashel, which are beside one another. Cahir was better served by South Tipperary County Council than Cashel. That is the truth. I have lived in Cashel and I have an office there and I know all about the duplication of services. There was a serious waste of money and resources.

I accept the point Senator Bradford makes about people living outside Charleville not knowing people near Waterford, and that it is difficult for one person to represent all of them. That is true and I take his point in that regard. However, going back to the old structures of town councils would be a backward step. I am not simply sticking to the script when I say that I would be totally opposed to going back there. I really believe it.

At the weekend, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, expressed his view, but that was a personal opinion. The Government opinion is to move forward with and protect what we have and then improve it. Senator Bradford is right in his views on the municipal areas and perhaps there could be an argument to cut in half the municipal areas, but the duplication of services and what we had in the past represented a great waste and we should not go back to it.