Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 December 2015
201. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will given further consideration to a request (details supplied) from Ballybay and Clones Municipal District; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44420/15]
View answerThe provision and maintenance of public lighting is the responsibility of each individual local authority. Local authorities receive income from a variety of sources including grants from Central Government, Local Property Tax (LPT) proceeds, commercial rates and other locally-raised charges.
It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities, including funding towards the provision and maintenance of public lighting, in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. Those local authorities that voted to reduce LPT rates locally must accept the effect of that reduction on local service provision. I note that Monaghan County Council (MCC) has decided to reduce the local rate of LPT by 7.5% for 2016, which will have the effect of reducing the funds available to the Council by €278,664 in 2016.
