Vol. 561 No. 1
490 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in the course of the disbursement of the various support grants to the respective local authorities, his Department disregard the funds by the authorities in question through parking fees and fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3252/03]
492 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the mechanism by which he is in a position to determine the allocation of the optimum funding to the various local authorities in the absence of a current report from the local government auditor in respect of services provided by the local authority and revenue accruing from same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3254/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 492 together.
Reports from local government auditors are not intended to provide the principal basis on which the allocation by my Department of grants to local authorities is made. In general, grants are allocated to local authorities on the basis of specific schemes or programmes proposed by them. In the case of general purpose grants from the local government fund, the 2003 allocations were determined on the basis of an across the board percentage increase to all local authorities, a cash increase of differing amounts to all authorities, a contribution in respect of the operational costs of new water services schemes and an amount determined by reference to the needs and resources model. Amongst other things, the model takes account of various expenditure and income details submitted by local authorities. In the case of income, this may include revenue from parking fees and fines, although the particular amounts of such revenue need not be specifically identified.
