Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the budget for 2013, my colleague, the Minister of Finance, announced a rebate on diesel, which is a decrease, with effect from 1 July 2013 for the transport sector and extended it to the bus sector in the recent Finance Bill, and this is welcome.

The Government is very committed to the local government fund. Despite the fact that the amount to be transferred from the fund to the Exchequer is higher than last year, income retained in the fund for local services following the transfer will be the same as last year. As the fund is not permitted to run an overdraft, the payment to the Exchequer will be limited to the balance of the fund at the end of this year when all other funding commitments have been met or to €150 million, whichever is the lesser. The amount will be decided later in the year in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin.

Many Deputies spoke about various methods of getting the necessary resources for local government. I thank those who contributed to the household charge in 2012, as 72% of the people, the silent majority, decided to accept what the Government wished to do and paid in excess of €117 million against the wishes of Deputy Catherine Murphy and others. The money is for the purpose of providing local services.

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