Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister fully understands our position because we present it every year in our alternative budget. Local authorities should be funded by central government. When this legislation passed the Oireachtas and came into effect in 2013, the Government gave with one hand by charging property tax on the residents in local authorities and then took with the other hand the grant that had been provided. It is not a case of leaving a local authority starved. The Minister knows this and if we want to have a sensible, honest and fair debate, we should have it rather than trying to misrepresent others.

The issue we have with this tax relates to the equalisation fund. Deputy Lawless made his contribution, as I mentioned. Last week, Oireachtas Members met the senior executive of Donegal County Council and the director of finance, who gave an indication of the finances of the county. We went through all the different programmes that any local authority would have at any given time. It was made very clear that Donegal County Council was in a very difficult position.

With a review of the local property tax we will see an increase of revenue from households that will pay additional tax but that will not benefit the local authority by a cent. I have raised this matter with the Minister time and again. The same scenario will apply to 21 local authorities across the board. There is an increased charge for the residents of the county but there will not be an increase in the amount of money available to the local authority to service those people.

I take the point on the reason Revenue is seeking the change and that is the substance of the amendment. We will deal with some of the other matters later.

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