Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will try to keep it concise and succinct to give the Deputy the facts. The 2022 budget for Cork City Council is up €14 million on 2022. We will ensure that, with the passing of this budget and the Supplementary Estimates, there will be no loss. We are plugging the hole for Cork city. I met Ann Doherty and Brian Geaney in Cork on a number of occasions and have used them as exemplars.

It is a superb and progressive local authority. No services are being cut, and none will be cut because of this Government. We are putting the funding in place, as we have done right the way through, with a 100% rates rebate waiver all of the way through for local authorities. On top of that, we will fill the hole left by the loss of income, which is significant enough for Cork city, with the passing of these Estimates today.

On the timing of the process and Estimates versus local authorities, there is an argument to be made for streamlining those timelines across the board. That can pose some difficulties. Local authorities explain the situation to members during budget negotiations or the budget process. I know for a fact that Cork City Council would have advised, through its mayor and councillors, that our Department had been in touch with it on a weekly basis about financial supports.

No services have been cut and no income has been lost. There is €14 million extra for Cork city for next year. When the Deputy passes the Estimate today-----