Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

"No" is the answer to those three supplementary questions. I do not agree with the Deputy that there has been anything improper or delayed about the publication of the Indecon report. The Deputy's fourth point was whether another report was needed. That is a good question and it could be the subject for a debate.

On the issue of the publication of the Indecon report, lest anybody thinks I am delaying it, I sought what was the precedent and I am following precisely the same arrangements as applied with the KPMG report in 1996, when the rainbow coalition was in Government.

I am interested in the question about local government and development levies because colleagues from Deputy McCormack's party in my county recently very significantly increased the development levies over what they had promised to people before the local elections, but that is a different issue.

The general point about the levies on which the Deputy touched was how much money is collected and how much money is in the kitty. That is a good question. I have already indicated that this year, before the councillors get into their estimates, I expect them to have those figures. There is a suggestion that there is approximately €400 million in levies collected and in accounts in the local authorities around the country. It is my view — I am sure it is Deputy McCormack's view — that whatever that figure, it should be available to councillors before they get into the estimates process. The lack of transparency in this area is not healthy and that is the point Deputy McCormack is making. I agree with him. I have suggested that this year that figure should be available.

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