Local Authority Finances

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Questions (637)

Joan Collins

Question:

637. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it has been brought to his attention that the Sligo County Manager stated at the February monthly meeting that Sligo County Council had not been charging the full cost of services provided by the county council to the borough council each year and that he indicated that the county council has been subsidising the borough council to the tune of approximately €700,000 a year; if it has further been brought to his attention that there is no record of such an annual subsidy in the Books of Estimates presented to councillors by the county manager each year and and that any decision relating to the provision of such a subsidy is a reserved function of the elected members of Sligo County Council and that the elected members never approved such an annual subsidy; if it has further been brought to his attention that the local government auditor was not provided with any information relating to the annual subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27810/13]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Section 100 of the Local Government Act 2001 sets out that where a county council provides a service or carries out a function in or in relation to a rating town or borough council, it shall levy a charge known as a County Charge on that town or borough council for providing such a service.

In determining a County Charge, the county council is required to prepare a statement of estimated costs expected to arise during the forthcoming financial year in relation to the provision of those services. The County Charge is provided for in the local authority budget and the elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, including adopting the annual budget.

Question No. 638 answered with Question No. 624.