Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One could not but agree with everything that has been said. The vast majority of Members have come up through the local authorities and still work closely with them. Members have lifelong friends who are councillors and members of local authorities.

I commend the Minister for at least responding to the calls that have been made over time. I believe that the municipal district structure is unworkable in many parts of the country. I know that the Minister will realise, on reflection, that the scenario where urban councillors are worse off than rural councillors needs to be put right.

I have a further proposal. The Minister recognises that the workload of councillors has been undervalued. When he brings forward the proposal to ensure that this takes effect in July, I suggest that he backdates the payments to 24 May 2014 because the work has been done by councillors since they took up office on that date. That would be an appropriate gesture to councillors who have been shortchanged. Whether we like it or not, councillors have been shortchanged and this would be a token of respect and engagement with those who serve on local authorities.

I ask the Minister to rectify the urban-rural difference and to backdate the payment to 24 May 2014.