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

The review is a very important mechanism to ensure we have equity throughout the network of 31 local authorities. What is key is the way the Government has intervened this year, in very challenging circumstances, to support local authorities via several funding streams, such as the energy support grant, which has assisted them in completing their budget, and the pay model, through which pay agreements will be refunded and for which we have ensured local authorities will get 100% support. This is in addition to the many acute challenges of rates revaluation. In working with the Minister, additional funding has been allocated that will assist them in the coming year. These are challenging circumstances but local authorities are doing incredible work. It is a testament to the network that they all passed their budgets on time, which we value.

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