Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like other Senators, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, to the House. As I am under time constraints, I will make a few key points. I have to disagree with Senator Grace O'Sullivan's view of the local electoral areas. I live in the Boyle municipal district in County Roscommon, which is a huge geographical area that from end to end is probably 80 km. There is nothing local about that.We need councillors to be rooted in their local communities. The intensity of their workload and the increase in it is completely unmanageable. I ask that greater consideration be given to the need for smaller local electoral areas in order to reflect the fact that we want local public representatives to be rooted in their communities.

Obviously, the €1,000 allowance and improvements in the expenses represent a step in the right direction. However, the bottom line is that we need to properly reflect the work that is being done by councillors. These people are on duty, no more than ourselves, 24-7. They have to deal with a wide range of issues, including working with local engineers, dealing with housing issues, attending meetings and being involved in different committees right across their communities. It is essential that we remunerate them properly. Speaking as one of the youngest councillors elected to Roscommon County Council, I am of the view that it is going to be exceptionally difficult to attract new people, or even incumbents, to stand in the local elections in 2019 and into the future. It is critical that we remunerate them properly.