asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the critical financial situation which has arisen in Cork County Council following the allocation of .8 per cent increase in the 1984 allocation over 1983; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork County Council Finances.
2.
I am aware that Cork County Council in common with all other public agencies will have to face difficult financial decisions in 1984. However, I am confident that with strict financial control and appropriate use of their extended powers of raising revenue locally the council will satisfactorily meet their committments. Overall, grants and subsidies to local authorities generally will in fact be up 10.3 per cent on 1983 and I believe when all the allocations have been finalised and account is taken of the extra allocations for the greater Cork area for 1984 arising from the Government's decision on the report of the working group on employment in Cork, that Cork County Council will be seen to be reasonably provided for in all the circumstances relating to public funding at present.
Cork is in a similar position to the rest of the country. How does the Minister suggest that difficult financial decisions should be taken by them as he is only giving them a .8 per cent increase? Last year there was an 8 per cent increase given in salaries as well as the additional cost of VAT and so on which had to be paid by local authorities because of the decisions taken by the Government.
The financial decisions will be taken by the local authority.
In view of high unemployment especially in Cork would the Minister not agree that he should give special consideration to Cork and allocate additional funds to the local authority?
A Government working party examined the whole Cork area and made certain suggestions. Cork County Council have a credit balance for the current year which is more than can be said for a number of other local authorities. They are not in bad economic straits. We must keep our priorities right. We have to make decisions and Cork County Council or any other local authority are not in a different position when it comes to scarce resources. They have to allocate the resources in the best way they see fit.
The Minister will be aware of the state of some county roads in the area and an increase of .8 per cent is not adequate to meet the needs of the council.