Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2015
504. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that Irish Water is now issuing charges for water services to outline his plans to reduce the level of motor tax which heretofore funded water services. [10295/15]
View answerIncome from Motor Tax currently accrues to the Local Government Fund. The Fund historically provided local authorities with finance to fund some of their day-to-day activities, including elements of water services costs, through General Purpose Grant allocations. Following the establishment of Irish Water, the water-related element of General Purpose Grants which previously went to local authorities has been replaced with an annual subvention to Irish Water. €439.1m was provided for this purpose in 2014 and it is expected that €399m will be provided in 2015. Decisions in relation to the level of future subvention will be finalised in the context of the annual budgetary/Estimates process.
