Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the rural programme referred to by previous speakers, it is important that disadvantaged rural areas or CLÁR areas get the funding they need. Small post offices, shops, schools and GP surgeries in rural Ireland are in decline and unless money is put into a proper programme, the plan announced by the Government will not work. It is important that Senators make sure that the most vulnerable and most disadvantaged areas get the necessary funding going forward.

I received several phone calls last night from county councillors. It appears that yesterday evening the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney announced a new funding programme for councillors. Most of us in the Seanad were councillors previously. The abolition of town councils has had a detrimental effect on towns in Ireland. Their loss has devastated many towns. Funding has halved in many instances and the amount of funding provided to towns is unacceptable.

It is good to see that the Minister is willing to work with councillors. Last June the Fianna Fáil group tabled a motion in the Seanad supporting county councillors, criticising the loss of town councils and supporting calls from councillors for additional funding in view of the fact that their workload has trebled. As Senators will be aware, that motion had the support of various groupings within the Seanad. In that context, I am very disappointed that the Minister made an announcement regarding councillors yesterday but did not inform Members of this House. We received no texts or e-mails and were not made aware of the details. I received phone calls from the councillors with whom I work but was unaware of what was happening. That is unacceptable. I ask that the Minister be called to the House to address this issue and to explain what is involved.

As Senators will be aware, €1,000 per annum has been provided in the context of the new municipal authorities, which I welcome. However, there are no municipal authorities in places like Dublin, Cork and Limerick and over 250 councillors in those areas are not entitled to that €1,000. That is unacceptable and suggests that those councillors do not represent their areas as well as others do. There is no need for that.

I understand that the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, will hold a meeting on Thursday next. I call on the Minister to explain what he has in mind. The text that was sent out to councillors today does not contain any detailed information on the proposed new vouched scheme. There is a lack of information and we, as Senators, do not know what is happening with regard to councillors, which is unacceptable. It is not good enough and I want the Minister to address the House in that regard.