Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy that the Department is working very hard and liaising with local authorities on a daily basis to measure the funding deficit and plan the July stimulus, which will be announced later today. Rates account for approximately 30% of local authorities' income on average. Goods and services account for in the region of 28% of their income, a sum of €1.5 billion nationally. We have been very clear that the July stimulus package must be of the appropriate scale and must reach businesses in a timely fashion. In regard to rates and the funding of local authorities, it is clear that the quickest way to get cash to businesses is to refrain from taking it away in the first instance. That has been the trajectory of the Government from the start. We will keep in touch with local authorities and I am confident that we will see a very strong and robust response from the Government this afternoon.

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