Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A sum of €491 million came in through the local property tax and €282 million made its way to the general purpose payment. Some €359 million made its way from the overall local government fund, which in the current year is more than €1.839 billion. This shows that a large part of it is not being disbursed. There is a further €520 million payment in the current year made to the general Exchequer. This leaves a lot of room for manoeuvre. Some €93 million is provided for under the miscellaneous heading. The provision for direct subvention to Irish Water, the bit that is actually named, is €439 million. This shows that people are not getting what they were told they would get. The Minister and Commissioner Phil Hogan told us in this Chamber that Irish Water was going to be a stand-alone commercial semi-State company. For how long will we shore it up? Some €59 million in rates is being carried. The Government speaks about keeping money off the balance sheet. It moved €500 million in one section of the Bill enacted just before Christmas back onto the balance sheet from Irish Water. This is €500 million that is owed to the housing finance agencies.

See this speech in context