The Taoiseach has suggested bringing back town councils through a pilot scheme in areas where such councils existed in the past and in new locations with growing populations.
Micheál Martin was responding to Independent TD Seamus Healy who called for the return of town and borough councils which were abolished in 2014.
He said that the town of Clonmel in his constituency had a local council dating back hundreds of years and it has been badly affected by the change.
Mr Healy added that the politician who culled the councils, former Minister Brendan Howlin, has publicly stated that in hindsight it was the wrong decision.
The Taoiseach said he had opposed the scrapping of town councils which had played an important role.
He described them as effective and bemoaned their loss, particularly when towns were flooded in recent years and adequate local resources were not in place.
But he said that once something is abolished, the system has the be brought "kicking and screaming" to restore it.
A taskforce on local democracy which is examining funding and functions will report early next year.
