Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 2

Written Answers. - Insurance Premiums.

John McGuinness

Question:

285 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the increase in insurance premiums being imposed by a company (details supplied) on local authorities and the fact that work programmes within each local authority area are being cut back to pay for the increases; the steps his Department intends to take to off-set this cost to local authorities generally; if further grants will be available to enable work programmes already agreed to be undertaken; his plans to raise the issue with the company concerned; and his views on the impact this increase will have. [4184/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I have allocated a total of €593 million in general purpose grants to local authorities from the local government fund for 2002. This represents an increase of 10% over the 2001 baseline allocation and is some 75% higher than the corresponding allocation in 1997. I am confident that this level of allocation, together with income from local sources, is sufficient to meet the reasonable cost of local authority services.

It is a matter for local authorities themselves to prioritise spending within their own budgets. It is also a matter for individual local authorities to determine their own insurance arrangements and I have no function in this regard. Accordingly, I have no proposals to raise the issue with the company concerned.