Vol. 430 No. 4
107 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment the total number of housing units in County Kildare on which rate support grants were based in 1978 and 1993; the amount of rate support grant paid to Kildare County Council in 1978 and 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Rate support grant paid to Kildare County Council in 1978 amounted to £1,685,902 of which £1,088,075 related to domestic rates reliefs. The 1993 rate support grant allocation is £4,395,643. The total number of housing units on the valuation of which domestic rates relief was recouped to Kildare County Council in 1978 was 21,500; this has not been a factor in relation to the amount of the grant since 1983.
The rate support grant paid to local authorities replaces in part the income from rates previously applicable to domestic dwellings and agricultural land as well as the former Bounty-in-lieu of rates on Government property. The amounts of the grant have been adjusted arising from a variety of factors affecting local finances over the years, including the abolition of certain levies and the termination of liability for certain local loans fund repayments.
