asked the Minister for the Environment if he will use the powers available to him to allow further time to Cork Corporation to consider their estimates for 1992; if he will outline the amount of rate support grant approved for Cork Corporation for (1) 1991 and (2) 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question: - Cork Corporation Estimate.
I am concerned at the failure of Cork Corporation to adopt their estimate of expenses and to strike a rate for 1992. Where a local authority fail to adopt an estimate the ultimate sanction provided by law would involve the removal of the councillors from office and their replacement by a commissioner who would discharge the functions of the elected councillors. I would very much regret having to resort to any action of this kind and being forced to remove from office public representatives elected by the people of Cork as recently as last June. I would not like to see them in a position where they would have to be removed from office.
My overriding concern as Minister must be the provision and maintenance of essential local authority services for the people of Cork city and the protection of related employment. It is imperative, therefore, that the statutory estimates process, which underpins the provision of these services, is satisfactorily completed. This is one of the fundamental responsibilities of local authority elected members but, if they refuse or fail to discharge their responsibility, it then becomes my duty to make other arrangements in the interests of the whole community.
My Department received a report this morning from the Cork city manager outlining the factual circumstances of the failure of the corporation to fulfil their statutory duty to adopt an estimate and to determine a rate for 1992. I have not received a request from the corporation that they be afforded another opportunity to consider and adopt the estimate for 1992. I am considering all aspects of the situation and I will make a decision on the matter in the near future.
Will the Minister agree that to leave Cork without a Cabinet Minister is foolish but to leave it without a lord mayor and council would be utter recklessness and anti-democratic? Will he agree, therefore, that he has a duty to try to come to some compromise with Cork Corporation about next year's estimates?
I agree that I would not like to see Cork without a lord mayor or councillors. However, as I pointed out to the Deputy in reply to the question, it is a matter for the councillors and if they wish to adopt a rate that is also a matter for them.
Will the Minister agree that if all the Government councillors voted for the estimates there would be no problem? He cannot persuade even his own councillors to vote for these estimates. Will he acknowledge, therefore, that there is a major problem in relation to funding local authorities? Will he agree that the problem in Cork is an example of what might go wrong elsewhere? Will he take the initiative now to sort out the problem so that a disaster for Cork can be averted?
From time to time councils have had difficulty in adopting estimates. However, in the current year to date, 24 county councils, two borough councils and 32 urban district councils have adopted their estimates for 1992.
Deputies Barry, Howlin and Gilmore rose.
I cannot allow a debate on this matter now. I will allow a brief question to each of the three Deputies.
The Minister said he had not received a request from Cork Corporation for an extension of the time. I understood the position is that the Minister grants the extension without a request. If so, will the Minister state that he is now granting an extension to Cork Corporation to allow them to reconsider the events of Sunday night?
There is a number of options open to me: the council could be removed from office because they failed to adopt an estimate, I could respond to a request from Cork Corporation to provide extra time or I could, without such request, provide extra time. As I have said to Deputy Mitchell, I am at present considering the letter which I received by fax this morning from the City Manager and I will make a decision on it in the very near future.
In the light of the erosion in real terms of the rate support grant by a factor of 50 per cent since 1987 and the difficulties experienced in Cork, Limerick and Waterford to name but three counties, will the Minister consider as a matter of urgency the whole funding of local authorities to ensure some level of local democracy at local level?
The Deputy is injecting new matter into this question. It is a separate matter.
Would the Minister accept that the position in Cork is by no means unique, that there is now a number of other local authorities who will be following suit in the very near future? Has the Minister received any requests from those local authorities for meetings and does he propose to meet with them to discuss the critical situation in which they now find themselves?
The question specifically relates to Cork and I cannot permit an extension of that matter.
Will the Minister meet with a deputation from Cork City Council to discuss their financial position?
I have received no request from the council in Cork other than a request for a meeting from my colleagues in the parliamentary party who are members of Cork Corporation.
The Deputy received a request from Laois but he rejected it.
That disposes of questions for today.
Deputy Allen is very quiet today.
I will make my statements at the appropriate time.
Please, the Chair is addressing the House.
It would be inappropriate for me to get involved today.
Deputy Allen.
The Deputy voted for that council in 1983 and that is why he will not get involved.
Deputy Wallace.
The Deputy should get his act together.
In 1983 the Deputy voted for that council and that is why he is so quiet today.
This exchange between Cork Deputies must cease.