Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether comments by the chief executive of the Heritage Council that under-resourcing of local authorities means they cannot afford to properly maintain green spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30398/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of comments by the chief executive of the Heritage Council to this effect.

Local authorities fund expenditure on services, including maintenance of green spaces, from a variety of sources including specific State grants, commercial rates, fees and charges for goods and services and general purpose grants from the local government fund. Increased funds are also becoming available to local authorities for capital improvement of infrastructures and amenities from their schemes of development contributions which were finalised in 2004. The general purpose grants allocated to local authorities for 2005 amount to some €817 million, representing an increase of 8.6%, or more than double the rate of inflation, on the corresponding figure for 2004 and an increase of some 130% on the 1997 provision. I am satisfied that this level of funding, together with the current funding available to local authorities from other sources, enables them to provide a satisfactory level of services. It is, of course, a matter for each local authority to prioritise its expenditure within the resources available to it and to operate its services as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the report service indicators in local authorities suggest a lack of funding from the Central Exchequer may be responsible for some of the failings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30357/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The first report on service indicators in local authorities, published in July 2005, details the performance of local authorities in 2004 with regard to 42 indicators of service. This is a significant innovation for the local government sector and will be a valuable baseline against which future performance can be assessed. I have asked each authority to review its performance across the range of indicators and in light of performance by other authorities and put in place a strategy for continued improvement.

Local authorities fund expenditure on services from a variety of sources including specific State grants, commercial rates, fees and charges for goods and services and general purpose grants from the local government fund. The general purpose grants allocated to local authorities for 2005 amount to some €817 million, representing an increase of 8.6% or more than double the rate of inflation, on the corresponding figure for 2004 and an increase of some 130% on the 1997 provision. I am satisfied that this level of funding, together with the current funding available to local authorities from other sources, enables them to provide a satisfactory level of services. It is a matter for each local authority to prioritise its expenditure within the resources available to it and operate its services as efficiently and effectively as possible.