Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While no definite decision has yet been made on this, next year I would like to make a block grant to each local authority and leave it up to them to decide how they want to allocate it. If we are serious about local government, this is what we should be doing. As I pointed out earlier, this is only one source of funds that local authorities can use to improve roads. They can also use money from commercial rates. It is intended that next year 80% of the local property tax will go to the local authorities concerned, and this can be increased or decreased by up to 15%.

The Government is moving towards much greater discretion on the part of local authorities in how they raise and spend money on local and regional roads, which is what local government should be all about. As Deputy Eoghan Murphy will be aware, the local property tax is really a matter for the Ministers for Finance and the Environment, Community and Local Government. However, I am of a similar view to the Deputy, that we should ensure the aforementioned 80% commitment will be honoured in 2015 and that the money will stay at a local level and be spent locally.

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