Local Government (Support for Elected Members) Bill 2024: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-10
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Eileen Flynn (IND), Administrative Panel

I second the Bill. We had a briefing in the audiovisual room last week. As Senator Black said, many county councillors and Senators attended that meeting. Senator Ruane wrapped it all up for me last week. As Senator Black said, Senator Ruane could not get over the fact that county councillors did not have administrative supports or an assistant. This time last year, Senator Black and I introduced the Bill in the Seanad. Last week, we listened to representatives from LAMA and county councillors speak of the work they do on the ground. From being born and reared on a halting site and living in one of the most working-class areas in Dublin, I probably know more than any other Senator the work that county councillors do. They are like community workers, counsellors, addiction service professionals, etc. For me, this legislation is not focused on the councillors, it is more about local democracy and communities. Now, more than ever, our local government needs support. Local government does not play politics. It does so much more than politics. We have to acknowledge and respect that.
I spoke to a county councillor today, Daithí Doolan. He said councillors took cuts when TDs and Senators took cuts. However, while the TDs and Senators' pay packets came back up a little bit, county councillors' pay packets did not come back up whatsoever.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-10/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:26+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-10