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Local Authority Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 November 2012

Thursday, 29 November 2012

Questions (176)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

176. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider granting South Dublin County Council the same level of allocation per resident from the Local Government Fund in 2013 as Fingal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53558/12]

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Written answers

I presume the question relates to General Purpose Grants from the Local Government Fund. General Purpose Grants contribute to meeting the difference between the cost to local authorities of providing a reasonable level of services and the income available to them from local sources and from specific grants.  

Local authorities cost and income bases vary significantly from one another and calculating an appropriate distribution of these grants is complex. General purpose grants from the Local Government Fund are structured to bring about equalisation over time; that is a position of balance where the financial needs of local authorities are met by their resources and they are able to provide an appropriate level of service to their customers.

In determining these grants a number of factors are taken into account including the overall funding available for this purpose, the estimated cost to each authority of providing a reasonable level of services to their customers, the income each authority should generate from local sources and the necessity to provide each authority with a baseline allocation that will support its financial stability .

In line with previous years, it is my intention to inform local authorities of their 2013 general purpose grant allocations following the announcement of Budget 2013. I will seek to contribute to the general purpose funding of local authorities to the maximum extent possible in 2013, having regard to the current pressures on the public finances and motor tax income.

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