I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 415 together.
The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future commits to reforming and re-imagining our public life. This mission sets out a number of commitments that relate to local authority funding, including setting out how commercial rates will be treated for the remainder of 2020, as a priority action. The Programme also commits to bringing forward legislation for the Local Property Tax on the basis of fairness and that most homeowners will face no increase. The programme states that those counties with a lower LPT base will be adjusted via an annual national equalisation fund paid from the Exchequer, as is currently the case.
Notwithstanding that, all local authorities are experiencing financial challenges as a result of Covid-19. In order to support the local government sector generally, my Department continues to keep local authority income, expenditure and cash flow generally under review and will continue to work with all local authorities on both collective and individual issues that arise, including Galway County Council.
