Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Is the 20% distribution of the local property tax to the local authorities based on the needs and resources model or is it related to a lower property tax?

Very often, what happens is that local authorities are deemed to be quite well off because, for example, they have a staffing complement they have to pay and they have a number of swimming pools, libraries and so on. However, very often, the local authorities, particularly in developing areas, are playing catch-up and it can work hugely to their disadvantage. What is the mechanism used for the 20%? Is it about higher property tax ratios? Is it to do with the requirements to fund what they already have in place? What mechanism is used to calculate that?

I also did my tot on the same figures as Deputy Stanley so I will not repeat that one except to say I also could not see where the €532 million was accounted for. With regard to the capital investment for Irish Water, this is no longer very transparent because of the way development contributions are now handled, given the local authority no longer applies them in regard to water and wastewater on a planning application since 1 January 2014. With Irish Water, it seems to be hit and miss and it is quite difficult to get information on this. Therefore, we do not know the position. I understand something will be published in the next few weeks by the Commission for Energy Regulation but, if we cannot get an answer on that today, can we get some sort of a comprehensive answer on how that is handled and what legislation it comes under? I am only annoying the Minister by writing parliamentary questions and not really getting to the answer I am trying to get to, which is an explanation of how it is actually done.

On the conservation grant, in a reply last week the Minister for Social Protection told me the Department needed additional staff to deal with that but the Minister, Deputy Howlin, said on Friday or Saturday that it did not. The Department of Social Protection tells us it is being handled almost on an agency basis for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Is any contribution being made by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to process that? What involvement is there, if any?

In regard to the figures Deputy Stanley highlighted, why are we being shown the €484 million, which is a contribution to the Exchequer, as though it was a contribution to local government? It is almost a dishonest way of stating it.

The Minister said in his statement he is finalising matters with Irish Water in regard to the conservation grant and that he will be issuing regulations. Will it actually be regulations or will it involve primary or secondary legislation?

The last Leader programme was renegotiated with the result that we got a reduced amount from Europe, if I remember rightly, but we were able to reduce the contribution we made. What will be the approach on this occasion? Will it be the same as the current situation or will we revert back to making a higher contribution but getting more funds into the country? Has the approach been decided at this stage? Clearly, there is huge demand on that fund, which has been one of the success stories over the years and has produced some very interesting initiatives.