James Leonard
Question:164 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for the Environment if he will increase the rate support grant to Castleblaney Urban District Council in 1997 in view of the low rate per capital in the urban council area. [14292/96]
Written Answers. - Rate Support Grant.
It is not possible to indicate, at this stage, the level of rate support grant to any local authority in 1997. The 1997 Estimates for Public Services, including rate support grant, will be determined by the Government in due course.
James Leonard
Question:165 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for the Environment the criteria used in allocating rate support grants to country councils and urban district councils. [14293/96]
The rate support grant replaces, in part, the income from rates formerly applicable to domestic dwellings, agricultural land and Government property. The initial method of calculating the grant reflected that income — which varied from local authority to local authority due to differences in valuation levels and in the rate poundages determined by local authorities over the years. Adjustments in rate support grant allocations to individual authorities have been made over the last decade arising from the elimination of certain levies and statutory demands, the writing off of loans from the Local Loans Fund, and in more recent years, measures to reduce debt levels and to deal with other structural problems.