Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 7 November 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht

Dublin Chamber of Commerce

2:55 pm

Photo of Caít KeaneCaít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The aforementioned survey and consultation are being carried out by all four local authorities and I understand the decision will be based on their combined weighted percentage votes.

The local property tax is relevant to the equalisation fund to which Deputy Corcoran Kennedy referred. In 1976 approximately 62% of local government funding was locally sourced from rates. The figure changed drastically after the abolition of rates. By 1982 the proportion had reversed, with 67% of funding coming from the national level. We are reverting to the position of 1976. It is not new that he who pays the piper calls the tune. Local authorities regularly ask to be given more powers but if they need power they also need to be able to raise their own money. However, as not every county has a sufficient business base, the equalisation fund will have to change that. Some counties will perform better than others and a central fund will always be needed for smaller counties. There is no way that Longford will be able to produce similar amounts to Dublin.

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