Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State will be aware, my constituency is a very rural one. In recent years, even Sligo County Council has been unable to help people out and pay housing grants that are normally supplied in most councils because it has no discretionary fund in place. Leitrim County Council is in a similar position and is under serious pressure, as are all rural local authorities. The reality is that 80% of the fund the Government gives to local authorities must be used for items that are already earmarked. Therefore, there they have very little discretion in spending that fund. I spoke to the chief executive officer of Leitrim County Council earlier today. He told me that in his estimation the local authorities would need to get an increase of €300 million in next year's budget and probably a further €200 million in the following year to deal with the crisis they are facing now.

This crisis has come about because many of the businesses from which they need to get rates are unable to pay those rates because they are not in business due to Covid. In addition, many people in local authority housing are really stretched to pay their rents. Many people also need other business services but they cannot get any money from them. Even parking charges in towns are not bringing in money. The Minister of State will understand that this is a real crisis. I would appreciate if the Government would make a real effort to try to deal with it.

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