Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are not ripping off anybody but ensuring that there is fair and equitable distribution of funding. Everybody will get 80% of what they pay in and the balance will go to some counties or areas which do not have the funding to maintain basic services. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, is firmly of the view that certainty is important in this significant time, and he will continue to work with Government colleagues to ensure the necessary budgetary information is available. Grant allocations from central government are a matter for the Estimates and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, along with other Ministers, will continue to engage with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, in this regard.

All of us agree that 80% of the funding should be spent where it is raised and there should be fairness and equity across the country. I hope the needs of Dublin will be met from the funding, as it should be.

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