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

Having been a county councillor for almost two terms, I am acutely aware of the challenges local authorities face. Perhaps the Deputies did not hear me correctly. I said we would engage intensively with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the days leading to next week's budget. We are very clear about the serious circumstances that have befallen our society and the local authority sector and we are working hard to try to alleviate those matters. That is why we allocated €600 million for a rates waiver to the local authority sector. We were there to ensure that businesses could get support during this key period when this pandemic is presenting huge challenges to our society.

On the local property tax, I was only outlining what some local authorities have considered to increase their income streams. I am very clear that local authorities have seen an absolute collapse in their goods and services income, that rates income and the ability to collect rates will be under significant pressure and that the Government will do everything we can to support the local authority sector. I am also very clear that in my role I will be a very strong advocate for that sector because it has shown outstanding resilience in the face of adversity in recent years. As I mentioned last night, the community call to respond to Covid-19 was commenced in a number of days to meet that challenge for our elderly and vulnerable people. We have also seen the response of the sector to the various weather emergencies of recent times. I can guarantee Deputies I will work very hard over the next number of days to ensure local authorities will have support because they need it. We will be very clear on that and I will not be found wanting in that regard.

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