asked the Minister for Local Government if he will say, in respect of sanitary service works executed by local authorities in each of the three years ending 31st March, 1953, the percentage paid for out of rates and the percentage paid for by way of Government grant.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sanitary Service Works.
During the year ended 31st March, 1951, capital expenditure on sanitary services works was met as to 41.2 per cent. from State grants and as to 58.8 per cent. from loans raised by local authorities. This was the last year in which the system of subvention by way of lump sum grants was fully operative. While schemes which had been begun on the old basis are financed accordingly to completion, new schemes are being financed initially from loans raised by local authorities, State assistance being given by way of contributions towards the annual loan charges. It is not possible, therefore, to express the relative position of local authorities and Exchequer in as precise terms as if a single form of assistance were in operation, but when the new system was introduced the existing distribution of liabilities was maintained with as little alteration as possible.