asked the Minister for Local Government if he will itemise the annual revenue expenditure by local authorities under the six basic headings roads, public assistance, health, sanitary services, housing and general purposes, over the past decade; and the State contribution to the expenditure for each year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Expenditure.
17.
Information in the form requested in relation to the years up to and including 1966-67 is contained in the Returns of Local Taxation for those years. The Returns of Local Taxation for 1966-67 also contain estimates of expenditure in the same form in relation to 1967-68 while similar information in relation to 1968-69 was given in my reply to Question No. 123 of 11th November, 1969. The amount of State grants in respect of roads and health and the amount of the agricultural grant were given in respect of the years 1967-68 and 1968-69 in my reply to Question No. 125 of 11th November, 1969. The corresponding figures for the other specific services for which my Department is responsible were—sanitary services £1.09 and £1.26 millions and housing £3.60 and £4.20 millions in 1967-68 and 1968-69 respectively. Particulars of the various amounts which make up the total State grants for general purposes in those years will not be available in my Department until the abstracts of accounts of each local authority in respect of each of those years has been received.
18.
asked the Minister for Local Government the annual new capital expenditure by local authorities over the past decade; and if he will state, on the assumption that such capital is usually provided from money raised by State borrowing, the annual charges of servicing such borrowings; and the annual contribution by the State to the servicing of such borrowings.
Details of capital expediture by local authorities in each financial year up to and including 1966-67 are included in the Returns of Local Taxation for that year. The latest estimate for 1967-68 is also included. Estimated capital expenditure by local authorities in 1968-69 was £32.79 millions.
The cost of servicing local authority indebtedness in the years up to and including 1966-67 is set out in the Local Taxation Returns. The corresponding figures for 1967-68 and 1968-69 are estimated at £17.16 and £19.21 millions respectively. The State contribution towards these loan charges involves payments from the Votes of a number of other Departments and details of the total State subvention in this form are not available in my Department.
19.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state in respect of the annual total expenditure over the past decade by local authorities the amount derived from (a) rents and rates, (b) State funds and (c) other receipts; and if he will state in respect of State funds the annual Government contributions to local authorities under the sub-headings (1) payment from Road Fund to Local authorities, (2) annual payment to local authorities in respect of agricultural grants allowances and employment allowances and (3) the urban authorities' annual share of these agricultural allowances.
A breakdown of the total revenue receipts of local authorities under the headings of rates, State grants and other receipts was given for the years 1966-67 to 1968-69 inclusive in my reply to Question No. 124 of 11th November, 1969. Information in this form for earlier years is available in the Local Taxation Returns. The total amount collected in rents by local authorities in each year since 1960-61 is set out in the recently-published White Paper "Housing in the Seventies".
Total Road Fund and agricultural grant payments to local authorities in the years 1966-67 to 1968-69 inclusive were given in my reply to Question No. 125 of 11th November, 1969. The corresponding information for earlier years is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
Road Fund and Agricultural Grant Payments.
|
Year ended 31st March |
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
1965 |
1966 |
|
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
|
|
Road Fund |
6.34 |
7.13 |
7.57 |
8.10 |
8.51 |
8.59 |
|
Agricultural Grant* including Employment Allowances |
5.66 |
5.84 |
8.53 |
8.96 |
11.19 |
12.49 |
*Includes a total annual payment to urban authorities of a sum of £15,492 in the years 1960-61 to 1965-66 inclusive and a sum of £17,968 in succeeding years.
20.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will give the annual return over the past decade of expenditure by local authorities to show (a) the percentage of expenditure borne by (1) grants and (2) rents and rates and other receipts in regard to county councils and (b) the percentage of expenditure borne by (1) grants and (2) rents and rates and other receipts in regard to urban bodies.
The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.