In 2019, €1.4bn was collected in rates from all 31 local authorities, an average collection rate of 86.6%. This collection rate is in line with the annual trends across the local government sector and does not reflect a funding shortfall. Similarly, as per unaudited 2019 figures, 30 of the 31 local authorities had a budget surplus in 2019, a continuing trend from 2018 and a marked improvement from previous years. The figures per local authority are set out below; while these figures are, as yet, unaudited, no significant change is expected when the auditied figures for the entire local government sector are available.
|
Annual Surplus/(Deficit) 2019
|
Rates Collected 2019
|
% Collected
|
Carlow County Council
|
€ 56,889
|
€ 11,604,480
|
86
|
Cavan County Council
|
€ 88
|
€ 12,389,423
|
79
|
Clare County Council
|
€ 535,724
|
€ 38,709,116
|
87
|
Cork City Council
|
€ 52,798
|
€ 63,893,897
|
83
|
Cork County Council
|
€ 63,542
|
€ 123,284,692
|
93
|
Donegal County Council
|
€ 652,747
|
€ 27,746,968
|
76
|
Dublin City Council
|
€ 2,143,110
|
€ 320,093,620
|
94
|
DLR County Council
|
€ (1,052,478)
|
€ 79,864,068
|
94
|
Fingal County Council
|
€ 923
|
€ 126,852,927
|
98
|
Galway City Council
|
€ 222,758
|
€ 34,079,386
|
83
|
Galway County Council
|
€ 16,773
|
€ 23,236,302
|
87
|
Kerry County Council
|
€ 83,784
|
€ 35,784,704
|
86
|
Kildare County Council
|
€ 170,424
|
€ 51,942,802
|
83
|
Kilkenny County Council
|
€ 10,193
|
€ 17,424,136
|
94
|
Laois County Council
|
€ 73,343
|
€ 11,592,946
|
80
|
Leitrim County Council
|
€ 1,524
|
€ 4,781,009
|
83
|
Limerick City & County Council
|
€ 10,303
|
€ 53,627,807
|
88
|
Longford County Council
|
€ 13,302
|
€ 7,367,602
|
88
|
Louth County Council
|
€ 404,831
|
€ 29,884,642
|
83
|
Mayo County Council
|
€ 468,191
|
€ 19,856,075
|
88
|
Meath County Council
|
€ 267,818
|
€ 34,285,905
|
93
|
Monaghan County Council
|
€ 76,867
|
€ 10,458,447
|
86
|
Offaly County Council
|
€ 632,096
|
€ 14,488,091
|
88
|
Roscommon County Council
|
€ 11,907
|
€ 10,311,746
|
89
|
Sligo County Council
|
€ 1,017,089
|
€ 10,461,576
|
82
|
Sth Dublin County Council
|
€ 4,073
|
€ 117,950,053
|
88
|
Tipperary County Council
|
€ 6,590
|
€ 27,711,053
|
83
|
Waterford City & County Council
|
€ 891,847
|
€ 28,437,225
|
82
|
Westmeath County Council
|
€ 31,172
|
€ 13,962,140
|
85
|
Wexford County Council
|
€ 1,642,312
|
€ 32,395,976
|
90
|
Wicklow County Council
|
€ 305,274
|
€ 24,194,959
|
87
|
As the Covid-19 pandemic had not yet had any impact in Ireland, there was no additional Covid-19 related funding required by any local authority for 2019.
In relation to my plans to address the potential shortfall for 2020; in order to support the local government sector, my Department is continuing 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 arising.
My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the level of additional financial support that will be needed by local authorities during and after the COVID-19 Crisis.
Indeed, to that end, as a short term measure in recognition of the immediate need, 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 could 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. Furthermore, as of September 2020, the full Local Property Tax allocation has been advanced to local authorities. This has been completed on an accelerated schedule to support local authorities.
In May, the Government announced an initial three-month waiver of rates for businesses forced to close business due to COVID-19. In order to enhance the supports available for enterprise, and in recognition of the fact that not only have many ratepayers been forced to close business due to the public health requirements, but many others that remained open have suffered significant reductions in turnover, this waiver was subsequently extended to six months to the end of September and the categories of enterprise that are eligible has been expanded. €600m has been allocated by Government to fund the cost of this waiver, which will take the form of a credit in lieu of rates.
As stated previously, in relation to the potential non-rates funding shortfall and Covid-19 related additional costs, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the level of additional financial support.