Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, yesterday published legislation that could see almost half the councillors in the country, as well as their 80 Town Councils, abolished.

County Councils and the new replacement municipal districts will form the structures of local governments in the plan. Minister Hogan says it's the most radical reform of the sector in over a century, but the merit of the changes has been challenged on the ground.

Newstalk's Breakfast spoke to Cllr Willie Callaghan, FF, Naas Town Council, President of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland, which represents the Town Councils and Urban Councils, and Dublin City Cllr Gerry Breen, FG, who supports the legislation: