Fine Gael is proposing the abolition of health boards, harbour boards,and the position of county manager in a radical rethink of the party's policy towards local government.
According to Fine Gael party leader, Mr Enda Kenny, the draft document which was leaked late last night, is only a 'series of possibilities and ideas' that he had circulated to public representatives in the party.
Apart from the abolition of the position of county manager, Mr Kenny is also suggesting that each county and city should have a popularly elected Mayor who would be paid a salary and who would take over the current functions of county managers.
Other proposals include the establishment of a national hospital board to replace the health boards, to put community health care under the direct control of the local authorities, to introduce community policing under the remit of the local authorities, and the establishment of a crime unit that would deal with more serious crime.
However, Mr Kenny is adamant that this is not a new party manifesto, but is simply a serious of suggestions circulated within the Fine Gael party to solicit the reaction of elected representatives to the proposals.
"This is a series of possibilities and ideas that I circulated to public representatives for their comment and their observation," Mr Kenny said on RTE's Morning Irelandthis morning
" . . .Over the next three months Bernard Allen will coordinate the response from representatives from which we will develop a coherent local government policy."