Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1197. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he has put in place to replace lost revenue due to Covid-19 in view of the fact Tipperary County Council estimates the loss due to Covid-19 is €20 million. [8868/20]
View answer1243. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures in place or planned measures to aid Clare County Council in view of its loss of €19.7 million in commercial rates owing to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9394/20]
View answer1259. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be increased for Kildare County Council in view of the collapse in income due to Covid-19; if so, the amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9575/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1197, 1243 and 1259 together.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, my Department has taken a number of measures to assist local authorities with the financial difficulties they are experiencing.
At the outset and to minimise cash flow challenges, my Department arranged for the early payment of Local Property Tax (LPT) to all local authorities. As a short term measure, my Department made €136m available to local authorities as cash flow support in early April, in order to ensure that the vital services that local authorities deliver can be maintained. This support was comprised of the early payment of the Local Property Tax allocation ordinarily paid from the Local Government Fund in May and July.
On 2 May 2020, the Government announced that a waiver of commercial rates will apply to all businesses that have been forced to close due to public health requirements, from 27 March 2020, for a three-month period. The estimated cost of €260m will be met by the Exchequer. My Department is currently preparing further guidance for local authorities on this initiative.
In order to support the local government sector generally, my Department will continue to keep local authority income, expenditure and cash flow generally under review and will continue to work with all local authorities, both collectively and individually.
