Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I agree with Deputy Collins that ideally we would like to have money raised at local level ring-fenced at local level but at present the way the system works is that there is a equalisation dimension to the local government fund for particular countries that do not have the necessary number of houses. We would have a very low level of service in some parts of the country, particularly in rural Ireland, if we did not have the equalisation measure. Those on the east coast are subsidising the west cost in regard to the matters and that has always been the case.

Ideally, and this will be part of a local government reform policy statement, I would like to see opportunities, much wider than exist now, for local authority councillors to be in a position to raise money locally in order to retain that money locally. That will be a fundamental change from the current system where almost 80% of all the various moneys they get through various funds have less discretionary opportunities for councillors than we would like. I agree with the principle of what Deputy said.

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