Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On Irish Water, I highlighted the broader aspect of this issue a number of weeks ago in terms of the change that was going to be implemented. We saw this week, on the front pages of our national newspapers, that it has come home to roost. There was a drop of some €35 million in the Local Government Fund and there was a change in terms of the Irish Water situation in that its contribution would be based on population. As a result of the changes, this week we saw that Dublin City Council now finds itself in receipt of some €8 million less in funds. Previously, commitments had been given that loss in revenue would be resolved through a Government subvention but the Government has back-tracked on that commitment. I made the point to the Comptroller and Auditor General that it would have serious implications for the funding of local government. I accept that is not within our remit but it goes back to the changes in local government funding, which has now resulted in €8 million less going to Dublin City Council, and that is just one council. I am trying to ascertain the figures for the various councils across the country at the moment because it is having a major impact. I ask that we would look at this again because that one change will have a major net impact on the operation of local councils.