asked the Minister for Local Government if he will introduce proposals for legislation to grant powers to local authorities to undertake, where they so desire, the provision of extended municipal services such as consumer markets, municipal saving banks, laundries, cultural entertainments, etc., commonly referred to as municipal trading.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Municipal Services.
At present local authorities either under local or public general Acts provide many services such as those referred to in the question. The services provided include facilities for fairs and markets; gas undertakings; baths, swimming pools and wash houses; certain facilities for games; libraries, museums, art galleries; public lectures and exhibitions and facilities for concerts and plays. No obstacle is placed in the way of the provision of new or the development of existing services of these kinds but the introduction of further legislation to extend the nature or the scope of such undertakings would, apart from other considerations, be dependent on evidence of the desire of local authorities generally for such extension.