Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2015
235. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of bank accounts, to which receipts are lodged, under the local government fund, that are in existence; the source and amount of funds lodged to each account in 2013 and 2014; the method by which payments were made from these accounts and to where they were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6383/15]
View answer236. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of all payments from the local government fund to Irish Water in 2014; the dates of each payment; the amounts paid; the total paid to Irish Water; if he will provide an analysis of all other payments out of the fund in 2014; when the audit of the fund for 2014 will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6385/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.
For the Local Government Fund, I presently maintain three accounts; two accounts at Permanent TSB Bank and one investment account at the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA).
The Local Government Fund Public Bank Account 1 is used to receive income. Daily payments of Motor Tax receipts are made by Local Authorities and payments from the Exchequer and any other relevant income, such as payments from the Local Government Management Agency in relation to Household Charge income related to previous years, are also made into this account. Payments into this account from the Exchequer include payments of income equivalent to the level of Local Property Tax collected by the Revenue Commissioners. Funds in excess of a minimum agreed balance are automatically transferred to the Local Government Fund Investment Account held in the NTMA on a daily basis.
The Local Government Fund Public Bank Account 2 is used to make payments from the Local Government Fund throughout the year. Income to this account comprises payments from the NTMA Investment Account, which is transferred on foot of instructions from my Department. The Permanent TSB then makes payments to various funding recipients from the Local Government Fund on foot of instructions received from my Department.
The Local Government Fund is audited each year by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG). The audited 2013 accounts, which detail income and expenditure from the Local Government Fund for that year, are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Administration/#d.en.35400.
The annual accounts of the Local Government Fund for 2014 are in the process of being finalised and the audit of these accounts will begin in March 2015. The accounts are prepared on an accruals basis and therefore expenses are matched with the related revenues and/or are reported when the expense occurs, not when the cash is paid. The table hereunder outlines a draft receipts and payment analysis for 2014. It should be noted that these are subject to change as accrued income and expenditure and the accounts for the year are finalised and audited.
2014 LGF Draft Receipts and Payment Analysis (pre-audit)
|
Income |
2014 €’M |
|
Motor Tax Income |
1,155.99 |
|
Local Property Tax |
491.35 |
|
Household charge |
0.17 |
|
Bank Interest |
0.37 |
|
Total Income |
1,647.88 |
|
Payments |
2014 €’M |
|
General-Purpose Payments |
281.00 |
|
LA Water Services Capital Loans Recoupment 2014 |
47.38 |
|
Water Services (Group Water Schemes) |
21.67 |
|
Local Government Innovation & Reform |
6.55 |
|
Department of Transport Tourism & Sport |
372 . 4 4 |
|
Exchequer |
520.00 |
|
Irish Water |
439.12 |
|
Other |
1 . 58 |
|
Total Expenditure |
1,689.74 |
The 2014 Revised Estimates Volume provided for funding of €486.5m to be paid from the Local Government Fund to Irish Water for water-related expenditures incurred previously by local authorities. The payments made from the Local Government Fund directly to Irish Water in 2014 are set out in the table below.
|
Date |
Amount |
|
11 March 2014 |
€121,500,000 |
|
3 April 2014 |
€40,500,000 |
|
8 May 2014 28 May 2014 |
€40,500,000 €121,500,000 |
|
3 July 2014 |
€40,500,000 |
|
10 September 2014 |
€20,000,000 |
|
25 September 2014 |
€40,000,000 |
|
27 November 2014 |
€12,000,000 |
|
11 December 2014 |
€2,622,119 |
|
Total to Date |
€439,122,119 |
The balance of €47,377,881 was paid directly to local authorities in respect of water-related loans recoupment costs.
