Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept the bona fides of Deputy Flaherty on this issue of the impact of just transition on commercial rates in Longford and Offaly county councils. The Lanesborough plant in Longford accounted for 15% of the rates base while in Offaly the Edenderry and Shannonbridge plants together accounted for almost 25% of the local rates base. In recognition of this, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, provided compensatory funding in 2021 equivalent to 100% of the rates that would otherwise have been due, with €1.4 million allocated to Longford and €3.3 million to Offaly. It was intended to be a once-off allocation to support the two authorities. However, recognising the challenges in 2021, during which local authorities continued to support the national effort to combat Covid-19 and the reopening of society while delivering key services to the public, compensatory funding is now again under consideration for 2022 as part of the Estimates process. I will relay what the Deputy said to the Minister in respect of this key issue.

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