The Local Government Act, 1998, provides a statutory basis for a new funding system for local government. This new system, which will come into operation on 1 January 1999 involves the establishment of a local government fund which will provide significant additional resources for local authorities to enable them better to carry out their wide range of functions, including the implementation and enforcement of waste management and other environmental legislation. I have no plans separately to provide specific resources for the implementation of waste management regulations, as the Waste Management Act, 1996, and the regulations, contain a range of provisions to allow local authorities to recoup or offset costs.