Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a local authority, and I think my own party is in opposition on that particular council. Councils receive funding from lots of different mechanisms. They get direct grants from the Government. They also have money from the property tax, commercial rates and other charges. Ultimately, it is for them to decide how best to deploy their budgets, which amount to more than €1 billion. If there is any way we can give assistance, we will try to do so, but the Deputy must bear in mind that these are local authorities and they make decisions on how to spend their money and they have their own revenue too.

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