€800,000 cut in council budget means increase in commercial rates

How many of you voted for them in the last election? I did not give one vote to Fianna Fáil. I'm not linked to any political party but would ask you all to remember all the lies they have told us over the last few years at next years local elections and in future Dáil and European elections.

More cuts. Thanks Fianna Fail !!

Not under a single authority it wouldn't. We have far too many self serving entities already sucking capital out of central funding either way. Many services are duplicated and staff/councillor levels completely out of proportion to the ludicrously administrative divisions we still call "counties" that they serve.

Proper regional government needs a dynamic centre - examples exist throughout Europe of how attractive and dynamic these centres can be with proper infrastructure and planning. In this country we need no more than 6 or 7 such Regions to replace the 40 plus antiquated councils we have, such a strong local government should also have some independent means of raising local taxes through rates, transportation (motorway tolls, part ownership of bus/commuter rail etc.), lottery and other means. Without any real power it's no wonder local politics is so stagnant.

And Gramsci.......do you think we "all" give Churchmouse Willie his two quotas. Please give some people here a bit of credit. It's still hard for me to contemplate the notion that he'll have enough sheep in is pen to return him next time out, but to carry along another dead-weight, surely not next time.

Tomás your idea is madness it would just lead to all the money being sucked out of the city to serve the rural areas. This is already happening in the city environs and would just get worse under your proposal. What is needed is a unitary authority for all the areas of the city.

In addition I am sick and tired of local councils getting the brunt of cutbacks imposed by Dublin. You'll all whinge whinge and then go like sheep to the polling booths to give Groucho O'Dea his double quota.

There should only be one LA for all Clare, Limerick and N. Tipp. The synergy of the union would provide the necessary savings instead. A united LA would also enable better strategic planning - e.g. providing incentives for commerce to happen in pedestrianised streets of cities and towns, rather than letting it drift out to these soulless airhangars on vast plains of tarmac in a ring around the city/town.

Are the City Councillors going to take a 10% cut in their €21,000 p.a. plus expenses salaries? I hear it's been done elsewhere. Have they explored waste and overspending in City Hall before the easy option solution is once again imposed.

And if they want to make up for lost revenue, how about pursuing and prosecuting litter offenders.

More good news for Doughnut County who once again benefit greatly from the lack of proper local government in this State as traders flock to the plastic shopping malls on the outskirts. And the sight of another few vacant premises to brighten up the city centre - which in itself also negates any perceived notion that this further rates rise will make up the shortfall.

Typical, just what the business's of Limerick need now... a rates hike, where do these clowns get off, if they had a brain they would be dangerous.