Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy mentioned that there might be cuts in local government in 2013. I hope there will not be any cuts but I am working as closely as I can with the Department of Finance in the context of the budget to ensure that we can minimise the reductions in expenditure because local government has taken a reduction in expenditure in 2012 and in 2011 to the tune of 16%. That is a substantial cut in the resources but it is in line with what we are trying to do on the efficiency agenda to see if we can free up resources for priorities local authorities might have in the economic area in particular and in the social and communities areas.