Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government

Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised)

3:00 pm

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their questions. On local government funding and the property tax, an interdepartmental group is examining the various issues in detail at present. Obviously, a model will have to be worked out in regard to how the 80:20 allocation is administered and how the entire Local Government Fund is administered. The interdepartmental group will be bringing forward proposals in the context of budget 2014. That work has not yet been completed but, obviously, there are different issues in different parts of the country. The fact is we need appropriate recalibration to ensure all of the issues are dealt with, and that work is ongoing at present. The figure of 80:20 has been reached in terms of the amount that is retained and then goes into the general fund.

Deputies Catherine Murphy, Tony McLoughlin and Paudie Coffey raised issues around valuation, equalisation and so on. I will deal with those issues first before I go back to Deputy Murphy's more specific questions. On the specific issue of Waterford, I know the Minister, Deputy Hogan, is very conscious of the various local authorities that are being amalgamated and also those that will be subsumed under the new local government proposals. I have some experience of this because there is already an ongoing process whereby Limerick city and county are being brought together. There was an issue with the Limerick county rate being lower than the Limerick city rate, and a gradual process is underway to bring them closer together. The intention is to do something similar in Waterford. The Minister is aware of the concerns of local business people in the different authority areas, so this will be strongly borne in mind.

The valuation process, to which Deputy Coffey referred, adds another layer of complication to the issue. To address the concerns of Deputy McLoughlin, the valuation is an independent process, for very good reason. I know the Minister, Deputy Hogan, and his officials are very conscious of the need to ensure there are not undue costs on businesses generally around the country, because businesses are struggling due to the current economic situation. It is an ongoing process in Waterford and there is a timeframe during which all of these changes will take place. We are very conscious of the issues, and communication will be continued with regard to the implications.

On the other issues raised by Deputy Murphy, as she said, there is €6.3 million for the archives service. There are already some measures in place with regard to the sharing of work - for example, there are joint archivists who are shared among local authorities.

Regarding interaction between libraries, the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, has a library unit to provide centralised supports to local authorities.

In all areas of local government, we are trying to find ways to share experience, services and efficiencies in terms of procurement, etc. There is more of a coming together than there was previously. This also applies in respect of archive services, which are valuable to the public, as has been rightly stated.

The notional figure in the current Vote for the Mahon tribunal is €2 million. We have needed to estimate how much will be required. The 2012 estimate for the tribunal's overall cost was €196 million. Of that, €101 million has already been paid by the Department, leaving some €95 million due in third party costs. The timing depends on when bills are submitted. People with bills are being urged to submit them as quickly as possible. It has been agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the costs will be met centrally, but we must propose a notional figure on the amount that we expect to be spent this year.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.