Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive response. We are, and I am sure the Minister of State will agree, very fortunate to have so many hard-working councillors throughout this country, and we must always strive to expand their role in their local areas and enhance the terms and conditions of those elected members. As these young people leave the Gallery this afternoon, we need more platforms for those young people to enter politics.Currently, that is cut off from them. By having town councils in place and back in situ, those young people who wish to be public representatives and represent their towns will have a platform, as I said, where they can dip their toe into local democracy and maybe expand on that, if it is what they wish to do.

It is widely recognised it was a huge mistake to abolish town councils. I look forward to the publication of this report in 2026. I look for the Government to progress the recommendations of that report so that towns the length and the breadth of the country can look forward to having their own voice, and having people from their own towns representing the needs and ambitions of those towns.