I have committed to undertake a review of the baseline allocation. The LPT revaluation process was completed with updated data available in terms of the revised yield and, in addition, Census 2022 data was available for consideration. These circumstances facilitated my Department to set up a Working Group in 2023, to complete the promised review of the allocation of baseline funding. The objective of the review was to recommend a set of key indicators which may be used to allocate available funding to local authorities in a fair, equitable and transparent manner. The working group included both executive and elected member representation from local authorities as well as representatives from my Department (DHLGH) and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR). The County and City Management Association (CCMA), the Association of Irish local Government (AILG) and the Local Authorities Members Association (LAMA) were each asked for their own Nominees.
Baseline Review Group Membership
Chairperson (DHLGH): Sinéad O’Gorman
DHLGH: Deirdre McCarthy, Tim Nuttall, Richie Farrell
DPENDR: Garret O’Rourke
CCMA: Jim Cullen (Acting CEO, Galway County Council), Angela McAllen (Head of Finance, Kerry County Council), Oliver Hunt (Head of Finance, Fingal County Council), Liam McCarthy (Head of Finance, Tipperary County Council)
AILG: Cllr Anne Colgan (Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council), Tommy Moylan (AILG, Director)
LAMA: Cllr John Sheahan (Limerick City and County Council), Cllr Michéal Anglim (Tipperary County Council and Chair of LAMA)
During the consultation process views and recommendations were sought from local authorities, elected representatives and social partners. These submissions and surveys were assessed and considered by the working group, along with external reports and studies.