Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)

The last time the Minister of State was in the Chamber, he and I had a conversation about the delays in people getting driving tests. I take this opportunity to compliment him on his work in that area. He set out ambitious targets and I am delighted to congratulate him this afternoon on the work and the progress he has made there. Maith thú in that regard.

Ireland's system of local government has been described as one of the weakest in the EU, with a 2023 Council of Europe report describing it as one of the most centralised countries in Europe. The EU average for tax revenue spent at local level is 23%. In Ireland, it is just 8%. Ireland scores just above Moldova and Hungary on the local authority index. We also fall short when it comes to representation, with 5,196 people per councillor here in Ireland, compared with 412 in Finland and 620 in Spain. We have the second lowest number of elected representatives in the EU because of the abolition of town councils, which were very cost-efficient and represented the citizens and people of their areas. Now the re-establishment of town councils, abolished over a decade ago under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, is outlined in the programme for Government as a priority to provide a focus point for our towns and to co-ordinate activities. The Taoiseach has indicated a goal of having these re-established by 2029. Eighty town councils were abolished in 2014 under the Local Government Reform Act by the then Minister, Phil Hogan. This shifted financial decisions from town councils to county councils, slashed the number of councillors by over 40% and introduced municipal districts.

I understand that the plan is to reintroduce the councils on a phased, regional basis, starting with large towns as a way to improve local representation and accountability. The move has the potential to strengthen the powers of municipal districts and the area committees, providing towns with a dedicated body to raise concerns and co-ordinate actions. The abolition of town councils in 2014 was clearly not fully thought out at the time and has led to a loss of local leadership and accountability. The move did not actually result in the €400 million projected savings at the time, in 2019, and indeed, Labour's Brendan Howlin at the time called the restoration of town councils an admission that it had been a mistake to abolish them in the first instance.

The Taoiseach has suggested bringing back town councils through a pilot scheme in the areas where town councils existed previously and in new locations where populations are increasing. Town councils were very effective entities that ensured that the needs of the urban areas were not forgotten. Former town councillors, of whom I am one myself, will say that town councils were efficient and accountable, because money raised in a town stayed in that town.The re-establishment of town councils also has the potential to bring more new people into politics at local and ground level, including many women and young people. They were, if you like, a platform for people to dip their toes into political life to see how it went. We need much more of that. Clearly, I understand that restoring town councils is a logistical challenge but I also understand that the local democracy task force set up to fund these functions is due to report shortly. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could provide us with an update this afternoon.