asked the Minister for Health if the Government intend to increase the grants to local authorities to compensate for the increase in wages and salaries caused by the ninth round of wage increases which will be included in the estimates for the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants to Local Authorities.
25.
The grants to health authorities from the Vote for my Department under the provisions of the Health Services (Financial Provisions) Act, 1947, represent 50 per cent of the approved net expenditure of those authorities on recognised health services. Increases in salaries and wages which are included in such expenditure will be reckoned for grant purposes in the normal way.
Is the Minister aware that the abnormally big increase will bring rates up to a very high level, higher than they were in previous years?
The Deputy, of course, is one of those who likes to see everybody being paid but who does not want to pay.
The people who will be paying these rates have not been put in a position to pay them.
There is no foundation for that statement whatever.
The whole idea was given to the councils and borough councils by the Minister's predecessor that this would only involve a rate of 2/- in the £.
That statement is very misleading and if the Deputy studies the matter he will see that there is no foundation for the implication.
There is. I was present when he said it. Here is another Fianna Fáil denial.