Local Government Reform

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019

Tuesday, 15 October 2019

Ceisteanna (645)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

645. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he has taken for 2020 to address the shortfall in funding for the local authorities in County Galway identified in the expert report on the restructuring of local government in Galway, in which it recommended that this matter be addressed before changes would take place in the local authority structures in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42219/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

The Government approved the merger of Galway City Council and Galway County Council on 18 June 2018. While the elements of the Local Government Bill 2018 that provided for this merger were not ultimately passed by the Oireachtas.

In this context, I recently met Galway County Council and indicated that the Government is prepared, in principle, to make a special once off allocation to the Council, in advance of the LPT review which will include a new basis of allocation of funds to each local authority.   Funding would be provided on the basis of detailed proposals to be brought forward by Galway County Council.