Given that one third of our population is living in urban areas, principally Dublin, I fail to see how on earth it can be regarded as reform of local government——

We cannot have a debate at Question Time.

Will the Minister of State not concede that unless there is reform of local government in Dublin the entire operation will be only window dressing?

I do not know what the Deputy has in mind for local government reform. I know what I have in mind. It will require major changes and they will be carried out——

When?

In Dublin we are slightly increasing the numbers in the city and we are providing for three new county council areas in the county. I think that is about right. The Opposition broadly welcomed our proposals when they were published. I will be happy to get as much co-operation as possible for them because this is not a political matter. This reform is long overdue and I welcome co-operation from all sides of the House in any changes.

It is not being done.

The Deputy obviously did not read on the day of the Press statement the type of reform envisaged.

I know the details. Nothing has been done.

The Deputy sees the question purely as one of line drawing.

What?

That is not what local government is about. The Deputy is aware that within the context of Dublin city are six other authority areas, district council areas, which will bring it down further. As well as that there is a metropolitan authority with statutory powers to co-ordinate all the services. That in itself is a major improvement, but it is only the start. Beyond that we want to devolve down to local authorities real power, a real sense of responsibility and to divest central Government of a number of the things that should be done locally, and that will be done.