Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1127: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that Meath County Council has a sufficient budget to provide all the services necessary for the people of Meath until the year end 2007; if his Department will provide additional funding to alleviate a shortfall within this local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20410/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The general purpose allocation from the Local Government Fund allocated to Meath County Council for 2007 is some €28.6 million. This is an increase of 9.5% over the corresponding allocation for 2006 and is well ahead of the average increase nationally. Indeed, over the last decade the Council has received increases in general purpose funding of over 190%, which is also in excess of the average increase provided to local authorities generally.

I consider that the Council's general purpose allocation for 2007, together with the income available to it from other sources such as commercial rates, charges for services and grants for specific purposes, will enable it to provide an acceptable level of services to its customers. It is, of course, a matter for the Council itself in the context of its annual budgetary process to set expenditure priorities and ensure that its finances are in balance.