Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Galway County Council's allocation from the fund in 2003 was €25,037,960. This represents an increase of approximately 92% over the 1997 allocation and an average increase of over 15% in each of the past six years. The recently published Abridged Estimates Volume indicates that €1.118 billion will be available to the local government fund in 2004. This represents an increase of approximately €38 million on the amount available to the fund this year. The Senator will be aware that today's budget provides for a further addition of €30 million to the local government fund. Revised buoyancy projections should also permit increased provision for local authority funding in 2004. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government intends to notify local authorities of their 2004 general purpose grant allocations shortly. I repeat that it is not appropriate for Galway County Council to determine formally the cause of the mud slide until it has received the information it has demanded under the section 23 notices.