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

I move amendment No. 53:

In page 65, after line 7, to insert the following:“Amendment of Housing Finance Agency Act 1981
53. The Housing Finance Agency Act 1981 is amended—

(a) in section 4(2)(c) by inserting the following subparagraph after subparagraph (ii):

“(iii) to the Local Government Management Agency, to be used by it for the purpose of the performance of its functions,”,

and
(b) in section 5 by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (c):

“(ca) the Local Government Management Agency, to be used by it for the purpose of the performance of its functions,”.”.

Amendment No. 53 inserts two new provisions into sections 4 and 5 of the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981, providing for lending by the Housing Finance Agency to the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA. The LGMA is a central resource for the local government sector, providing, procuring and co-ordinating a range of support and shared services which are most appropriately and efficiently delivered at national level. Shared services are identified in the public service reform plan as an important opportunity to make further savings in local government administrative costs through streamlining and improving service delivery. The establishment of these shared services and provision of these efficiencies require initial financing, and this amendment provides a legislative basis for lending by the HFA to the LGMA should it be required. The LGMA is funded by a levy on each local authority and this levy will include a contribution to the shared services programme, thus ensuring the repayment of the loans concerned.
Amendment No. 55, which is linked to amendment No. 53, amends the Long Title of the Bill to cover the amendment of the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981.