Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2015
178. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he or his Department's officials requested Sligo County Council to close any part of the motor tax service, or library service, in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8446/15]
View answerIt is a matter for each local authority, including Sligo County Council, to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority. Decisions regarding the motor tax service or library service in County Sligo are a matter for Sligo County Council.
While it is a matter for individual local authorities to manage their own day-to-day finances in a prudent and sustainable manner, my Department is in regular and ongoing consultation with Sligo County Council in relation to their financial position.
