Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 862: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will allocate Meath County Council additional funding to reduce the current spending deficit, especially in the view of the low rate base in Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26293/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The general purpose grant from the Local Government Fund allocated to Meath County Council for 2006 is some €26 million. This is an increase of 9% over the corresponding grant for 2005 which is well ahead of inflation, is greater than the average increase nationally and is double the amount provided to the Council in 2000. In terms of its net effective valuation, Meath County Council has the eighth largest rate base of all the 29 county councils and in 2006, enjoyed a 15.6% increase in that base over 2005 or a 57% increase over 2000 which is the fourth largest increase of all county councils.

I am satisfied that with these resources, in addition to income available from other sources, the Council has substantial funding to address the service needs of its customers. It is, of course, a matter for the Council itself in the context of its annual budget process to set expenditure priorities and ensure that its finances are in balance.