Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I spent 11 years as a councillor. We have many fine Sinn Féin councillors in Cork. I know what I am saying when I say that Cork City Council is on its knees financially and needs Government support. Cork City Council has a budget deficit of €2.5 million, excluding the rates deficit. Without support from central government, ordinary people and families will lose out yet again at the hands of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Those parties are only too happy to bail out banks and big business, but not local authorities.

The Government has failed to support local authorities and now Cork City Council has been forced into proposing a rent increase for those in social housing who are some of the most vulnerable people in Cork and also major budget cuts for housing maintenance and other services. Will the Government help by bailing out local authorities the way the Minister of State's party bailed out the banks?

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