Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for those very kind words. We are 45 or 46 days away from the local elections. This debate about what we are going to do about local government and where it is going to be a part of our society needs to happen in a very appropriate place like this.

Limerick is going to be the leading light when it comes to local government in the next few days. Limerick will have a directly elected mayor. Five full-time staff will be working directly with that directly elected mayor. The role will have a budget of €8 million pertaining to it directly workable for that mayor.

This is a model at which we need to really look. Cork and other counties and cities need to look at how Limerick is now going to stride ahead and make sure there is going to be proper accountability. We had comments in the Chamber today about housing and housing delivery and issues regarding dereliction. That is about getting accountability in local government.

It is very hard for our part-time councillors to get accountability from officials. When we have a directly elected mayor, however, that is a full-time proposal and full-time gig. That puts the onus of responsibility on to that individual. That person also has a budget coming directly from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

We need to put time aside to ascertain the view of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this really important issue of local government. Does he have a vision that we are going to roll out directly elected mayors in the next five years in cities like Galway, Cork or even Waterford? What is the vision now? Are we going to let Limerick stand out on its own as the only region that has the capability to have a direct elected mayor? Time needs to be put aside to get a vision, not alone from the Government but maybe from the parties, about what our vision for local government is and where this issue about directly elected mayors is tied in. I personally believe it is a positive step and we need to do something about it.