Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Not only do we need to pay councillors properly but we also need to look at the lack of power given to local authorities over the years. We have reduced the money and power they get and, as a result, the job of councillors, who receive this low wage, is even harder. They do not have money to fix water infrastructure or to fix houses. That has all been centralised. As we discuss the Appropriation Bill, I would like us to look at that issue and to rethink how we allocate power and money to local government in addition to considering the issue of councillors' wages.