Local government is the beating heart of democracy. That heart was torn out of democracy in 2014 with the abolition of town and borough councils. The latter were replaced by committees with no powers, no functions and no funding. This has done serious damage to towns across the country in the context of their economic and social development. It is now widely acknowledged, even by a former leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin, that this was a very bad decision. The local government task force established to examine the position held its first meeting on 26 June last year. Its report and the recommendations in it were to be with the Minister within a six- to nine-month period. We are now at the end of the eighth month of that period. Has the Minister received the report? When will the Government re-establish town and borough councils and will they be in place in time for the local elections in 2029?

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