Local Government (Support for Elected Members) Bill 2024: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-10
============================================================

Seán Kyne (FG), Cultural and Educational Panel

I welcome the Minister of State. I acknowledge that decisions on timed amendments are made by Cabinet. It is important to put that on the record. Many Senators have indicated their support for the principle of the Bill, and whether that is now or in 12 months' time, it is still the principle of the Bill.
As Senators Ahearn, Fitzpatrick and O'Loughlin said, a lot of important work has been done in government over the last number of years by Ministers with responsibility for local government. Many changes have been made and we have had the work of LAMA and the AILG. I was happy to attend the local democracy task force with the Cathaoirleach, the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Senator Boyhan to highlight some of the issues and the important role councillors have. As a former councillor, I fully acknowledge the valuable role they play. A lot of things and a lot of supports have been put in place but more could be put in place.
If an administrative assistant gets a salary of €35,000 or €40,000, it means this Bill would cost about €40 million. Would councillors be better served by having an increase in salary if we were to spend an additional €40 million? Could there be changes in relation to expenses? Could there be changes and more certainty in relation to pensions? Gratuities have been mentioned. There are a lot of things that could be put in place. I accept that administrative support is needed but I do not know whether a full administrative assistant is needed or whether that money could be diverted more directly to councillors.
I have previously wondered whether cathaoirligh, for example, should have drivers. In County Galway, we have a cathaoirleach who serves an area from Clifden to Portumna and Glenamaddy to An Spidéal without a driver. Should that be looked at? I think it should. There are issues like that. People talk about why people do not get into politics, one of which is the timing of meetings. If a meeting is at 11 o'clock in the day that discommodes a full-time councillor. There are a lot of things that could be looked at.
Town councils were mentioned. At the local democracy forum, I know LAMA and the AILG said it was not their policy that we should bring back town councils. Perhaps just cause could be made for some town councils. On some town councils it was possible for someone to get elected with fewer than 100 votes. There was a view that the more peripheral areas lost out in those cases. There is a lot here. There is never a bad time or a wrong time to debate issues relating to councillors and I welcome the debate on this Bill.

---

Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted.

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