John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

There is a requirement for clarity. The Deputy referred in his question to a prohibition on the spending of development levies. There is no such prohibition. Our intention is to ensure we have as much flexibility as possible. I am conscious of the needs of the local authorities and, indeed, I have spoken to the managers. I understand how difficult the situation is. However, it should be remembered that when we refer to the general Government balance, we are referring to an aggregate. I have spoken to my officials at length about this. What is required is continuing discussion and dialogue between my Department and the various local authorities so they can prioritise certain infrastructural projects.

There are difficulties with certain local authorities - I am aware of each of them - who have accumulated a large amount in development levies. They would like to spend as much of that as they possibly can but under the current rules that might not be possible. That is not to say they can spend nothing; they can spend. The question is how we do that and which infrastructural projects can be prioritised. It is a balancing act. We are dealing with this on a national basis. It is the only way we can deal with it because of the commitments we made under the Maastricht Treaty. We are obliged to do this, and I hope the Deputy understands that. We cannot work it in any other way.

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