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

I firmly agree the people's money needs to be spent well, spent efficiently and spent in their interest. That is why it is important that we have audit and oversight functions that work. However, local government is separate from central government. Local government is now enshrined in our Constitution by means of an amendment passed by the public some years ago. While local authorities receive some of their grants directly from central government, they also receive funding from the local property tax, commercial rates-----

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