Phil Hogan on the alignment of local government and local development

The alignment of local government and local development will bring public oversight, says Phil Hogan.

MUCH comment has been made in the media in recent months in relation to my proposals for the alignment of local government and local development.

There has been talk of exclusion of community involvement in decision- making, the loss of funding, and large- scale job losses. There has even been talk of privatisation which is ridiculous given that the companies involved are already private companies. What we will see, however, is an element of public oversight which has hitherto been lacking.