Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not see that there is any confusion. The sector accounts for 37% of the overall contribution, having increased by 10% in the past decade, but the Department has starved one side. Last year, for the first time in many years, many city councils increased their rates because there was a bit of buoyancy which allowed them to do so. Populations are getting bigger and more is being demanded of councillors and officials, who are now under some pressure. The only place they can get a bit of extra income is to increase rates. I accept what Deputies Cullinane, Murphy and Connolly said about our remit and what can be examined, but they are getting off the hook by putting it onto this sector. Over the past ten years it has grown from under €1 billion to €1.5 billion and it is only going to get worse. We are discussing central government funding to a sector and there is scope to examine it on the day. They say over one third has nothing to do with them and is simply contributing to running costs, but we are missing a trick.