asked the Minister for the Environment when he will introduce measures to give effect to the commitment in the policy statement The Reform of Local Government dated 30 May 1985, that from 1986 the power to levy service charges will be reserved to the elected councils.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Service Charges.
42.
I made an order on 11 October 1985 which provides that the power of county councils, boroughs and urban district councils to make charges for services in respect of domestic premises will, from 1986, be exercisable directly by the elected councils concerned rather than by the managers.
The separate legislation which applies to county boroughs requires that additions to their reserved functions can be made only on the application of the county boroughs concerned. The respective county boroughs have been notified of the action taken in relation to other authorities and asked to consider the matter at the earliest opportunity.
This shows the power of the parliamentary question. We got the Minister to move on that one. Will the Minister explain the position in relation to Galway which at present is a borough council but which, from 1 January, will be a county borough with the assistance of £500,000 from the Minister's Department?
The order applies to Galway Corporation which is still a borough as the Deputy pointed out.
What will happen from 1 January?
This order now applies and will continue in force after that date.
Does the Minister accept that the rates support grant is now the main source of revenue for local authorities for most services? Will local authorities be notified of the rates support grant and is it proposed to have these estimates published before the commencement of the year for which they applied?
At present the Government are considering Estimates for all Departments. The Taoiseach indicated that this procedure will be completed before the end of the year. I cannot say when I will be in a position to indicate the level of rates support grants.
Surely the Minister should be able to notify local authorities of the amount of the rates support grant before the end of the year?
I will be in a position to do so before the end of the year.
Where a local authority decide not to impose service charges, will this affect the amount of the rates support grant? How is the amount of such rates support grant calculated? Does the Minister agree that when revenue is raised locally through service charges the rates support grant is reduced, which is a disincentive to imposing charges? Could the Minister also state whether the Government intend to abolish water charges?
That seems to be a separate question.
In regard to the last question, local authorities are free to decide whether they wish to continue imposing water and service charges or to suspend them. I would not like to take that facility away from them as they may feel charges are necessary to increase their revenue. A number of questions were put to me. The rates support grant will not be affected because a county council, an urban council, or a county borough wish to continue raising revenue through the continuation either of water or sewerage charges. That will not affect the distribution of the rates support grant.
Will the Minister make up the balance? If a local authority decide not to raise revenue from service charges in 1986, will the Minister increase the rates support grant accordingly?
As I said, at the moment I have no indication of the final outcome of the Government's deliberations on the Estimate for my Department or for any other Department and, therefore, I cannot tell the Deputy the amount of money that will be available to me under the rates support grant. I cannot say if that latitude will be given to me with the amount of money I receive eventually.