Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

This represents an increase of over 9% on 2004, which far exceeds the rate of inflation. It is almost 2.5 times the level of funding provided in 1997, when the parties opposite were in Government. In anyone's language, this represents a tremendous boost for local government and it enhances the ability of local authorities to provide quality services, including the operation of appropriate waiver schemes to their customers.

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