Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I hope the Senator's council will be able to respond when we raise this matter with it.

The 2003 Estimate for this area is €432,000 compared with €410,700 last year. We must be realistic about this. I am making an obvious point. If there are problems in this area, local authorities have a duty and a responsibility to contribute some of their resources to address them. A number of local authorities this year reduced their resources in this area, possibly because they are under pressure. I made this point here yesterday and the facts can be made available to Senators if they wish.

This is a difficult year in terms of resources. The Department, through the local government fund, increased its contribution by 6%, bringing the local government fund for 2000 to an all time record of €1.048 billion in comparison with an amount of €701 million in the fund in 1999. We are, therefore, making progress. We have a multi-annual programme for 2002 to 2005. I want to adhere to the amendment before us. If there are difficulties in some local authorities, they should communicate with us on them and we will act as positively as we can.