Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, although I am disappointed that of three Ministers of State and the Minister in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage not one of them could be here to discuss this matter. Nonetheless I welcome Deputy Madigan.

I have been raising this issue for many years in various ways with different Ministers. The issue is the perilous financial situation in Galway County Council in terms of its baseline funding. Last year when the Minister contacted the county council and gave a very welcome once-off allocation of €600,000, he stated the Department was reviewing the local property tax yield and once available allocations would be reviewed. I now understand that is not going to be concluded this year. The review will encompass all local authorities. However, the Department stated that as previously discussed whether a financial plan specific to County Galway may be appropriate is something we can revisit. Is that something the Department will now look at? The Department also stated it was available to support and collaborate on this issue. I certainly think that a specific case and a plan for Galway needs to be enacted prior to the coming budget, before the councillors have to make their decision in regard to local property tax.

The baseline figures for Galway are as clear as mud in terms of the revenue budget and revenue per capita. In the 2022 revenue budget, Galway County Council has a budget of €143.9 million. Comparable counties such as Mayo and Donegal have around €162 million or €163 million although they have lower populations. That is basically the issue. The per capitafigure for Galway is €802 compared with Donegal with more than €1,000 and Mayo at €1,256. That is the crux of the issue that we are trying to address.