Vol. 468 No. 1
128 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by the members of Castleblayney Urban District Council, County Monaghan, at its annual meeting in regard to the inadequate rate support grant which it receives; the plans, if any, he has to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14632/96]
The rate support grant paid to Castleblayney Urban District Council over the years has been calculated on the same basis as applied to local authorities generally. The initial calculation of the grant reflected the rates income formerly applicable to domestic dwellings, agricultural land and rates on Government property. Adjustments in rate support grant allocations to individual authorities over the last decade arose from the elimination of certain levies and statutory demands, the writing off of loans from the Local Loans Fund, and measures to reduce debt levels and to deal with other structural problems. It is not possible at this stage to either increase the 1996 allocation to the council or to improve on the arrangements put in place for advance payment of rate support grant instalments.
