Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The relevance is that many of the activities for which local authorities now return the excuse to Deputy Murphy, me and every other public representative that they do not have funds are by their nature capital activities. Deputy Murphy correctly stated that local authorities cannot use the development levies. She mentioned that they are ring-fenced in Kildare, and properly so. They cannot use for current purposes developmental levies which were incurred for capital purposes because that would be simply unacceptable, but they can use them for all sorts of activities, for example, new roads, car parking, specific public traffic infrastructure in their own areas and specific land acquisition. They have used them, for example, to create certain facilities in individual areas.

I need and am looking for far more transparency for the people. The councillors have had to make the brave decision to introduce a levy scheme. They should have a clear account of where the levy scheme money is going and all too frequently that has not been the case. Councillors of all parties and none, from many different councils, have told me that they want to see the system more transparent. That is why I am introducing additional audit committees and will provide additional resources and supports for that by way of regulation in the new year.

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