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Local Authority Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020

Tuesday, 9 June 2020

Questions (704, 705, 712)

Brendan Smith

Question:

704. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he plans to implement to assist local authorities with their funding programmes due to the serious reduction that will occur in their income in 2020 due to the contraction in business activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10195/20]

View answer

Brendan Smith

Question:

705. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to increase the rates of reimbursement for local authorities at a higher rate than originally announced due to the closure of businesses caused by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10196/20]

View answer

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

712. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if confirmation of funding for local authorities to compensate for additional expenditure or income losses other than rates losses due to Covid-19 will be given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10368/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 704, 705 and 712 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 vital services that local authorities deliver can be maintained. This support was comprised of the early payment of the LPT 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 costs involved 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, on issues arising.

Question No. 706 answered with Question No. 698.
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