Tá ceist agam faoi reachtaíocht atá fógartha, the local government reform bill. The Government committed to reorganising local governance structures to allow the further devolution of decision making to local people. As I understand it, there was an announcement today on the abolition of town councils. There is real hunger for more democracy but there is considerable fear that this is just about costs. Could the Taoiseach tell us when the local government reform Bill will be published and brought before the Dáil?

Today's announcement refers to what is probably the biggest shake-up of local governance since the foundation of the State.

It is an attack on local democracy.

The details are already published.

Has Deputy Healy-Rae read it?

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform would, of course, agree with it.

This will be carried through to effect for the 2014 elections. This will mean a number of Bills will have to be brought before the House by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. This will happen as soon as possible. The information is now available to the Deputy in detailed form.

Gerrymandering in Dublin.

Bring back James Tully.

The proposal is to reduce the overall number of councillors, councils and regional authorities, saving €45 million.

It will not save anything.

It will give greater cohesion and clarity to elected councillors-----

Perhaps we will circulate the statement.

The Deputy will have ample opportunity to debate his area here.

The Government is shooting a lot of its own lads in the back.

It looks after Labour in Dublin.

If the Deputy does not mind-----

It is the biggest gerrymander I have seen in a long time.

Deputy Adams was asking a question.

The question, which the Taoiseach studiously avoided, was when the legislation will be brought forward.

Have we any idea?

As I said, there are three or four Bills involved. They must all be implemented before 2014. It will probably be next year before the bulk of these Bills appear. It will be important for the Deputy and his colleagues to read the documentation and figure out what it means for them.