Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Broin. Funding local government is a serious issue and something all of us want to ensure because they have had a very tough time. I take this opportunity to thank the staff in the 31 local authorities across the country who have gone above and beyond the call of duty during this pandemic. Our citizens saw the commitment of the women and men in local authorities to serving their communities.

That is admirable and, therefore, I want to make sure our services are not diminished in any way.

Earlier at the meeting of the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which Deputies Ó Broin, Cian O'Callaghan and Gould attended, members dealt with the Revised Estimate for 2020 – an additional €600 million, amounting to a rates waiver of 100%. It will be dealt with in the House tomorrow and I expect support from every Deputy. Once the Dáil agrees on the Revised Estimate, we will be able to disburse the €600 million to the local authorities. We have already paid the local property tax for the full year.

To answer the Deputy's question, local authorities have incurred other Covid-related losses and additional costs. I am working hard to make sure this is addressed. I cannot give an exact figure yet; I am not being evasive about that. I am dealing with the County and City Management Association, CCMA. The amounts mentioned by the CCMA and the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, vary. Some local authorities have been hit worse than others, particularly regarding rates. In this regard, there are differences between local authorities. Local authorities may face different pressures. Suffice it to say we are doing everything we can to ensure the hole in local authority funding is plugged for this year. The Ministers of State in my Department, Deputies Peter Burke and Noonan, are committed to doing this. When we have an agreement with the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, I will be required to bring a Revised Estimate to the committee and the House. I hope to be able to do that in the short term.

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