Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Okay. I welcome the fact the Department is doing some workforce planning, because the fault-lines will be seen. There are areas that need attention, such as the planning system which is discredited due to large numbers of unauthorised developments. It is taking forever to deal with the estates that have not been taken in charge in a timely way. These areas must be part of the performance indicators because they affect people significantly. It is areas such as this where the local authority has no legal responsibility that need attention. If there is a legal responsibility to deal with an issue, such as to deal with a planning application, that responsibility will always be met. However, other issues get pushed aside when staffing is inadequate. While the staff in the local authorities may be very good, if there is not enough staff, we run into difficulties.

The Minister stated there will be more independent funding. Since 2008, there was €1 billion in the general purposes grant. That is down to €640 million this year. It is proposed to take moneys from the motor tax fund, which had been ring-fenced previously, so that is, essentially, a diminishing fund. It may well be the moneys available are different moneys, but that does not mean there is more. I cannot see there is any more money. Will the Minister give us a run-down of the moneys?