Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 233: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will seriously review the local government budget allocated to Clare County Council as services across the board provided by the local authority are under severe pressure as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5844/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am providing some €999.2m in general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund to local authorities for 2008. These grants are my contribution to meet the difference between the cost to local authorities of providing an acceptable level of day to day services and the income available to them from local sources and from specific grants. The amount being made available for these grants this year represents an increase of some €51.5m over the amount provided for 2007 and continues the trend of providing additional general funding to local authorities through the Local Government Fund.

Clare County Council's general purpose allocation for 2008 is €16,476,569, an increase of 5.13% over the 2007 allocation. General purpose grants to Clare County Council have increased by some 460% since 1997, which is more than twice the average increase to local authorities over that period. There are no additional resources available to me to increase general purpose funding to local authorities this year. I am satisfied that the general purpose allocation I have provided to the Council for 2008, together with the income available to it from other sources, will enable it to provide an acceptable level of services to its customers.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 234: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the general purpose grants allocated to each local authority throughout the State in 2005, 2006 and 2007; if he will provide an analysis of the general purpose grants allocated to each local authority throughout the State in 2005, 2006 and 2007 when compared to populations in each county; the income generated from rates collected in each local authority throughout the State in 2005, 2006 and 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5845/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The information requested in the question is set out in the attached tables. General purpose grants from the Local Government Fund are my contribution to meet the difference between the cost to local authorities of providing an acceptable level of day to day services and the income available to them from local sources and from specific grants. These grants are allocated having regard to a range of factors including the overall funding available for these grants, the cost to each local authority of providing its services, the income available to each local authority from local sources and specific grants and the need to ensure that each local authority receives a baseline allocation that will provide financial stability.