Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which he has received requests for funding under various headings from the various local authorities in 2008; the extent to which he expects to meet these requirements in full in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21166/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am providing some €999m in general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund to local authorities for 2008. These grants, notified to the authorities in December 2007, are my contribution to meet the difference between the cost of providing an acceptable level of day to day services and the income available to authorities 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.

There are no additional resources available to me to increase general purpose funding to local authorities this year. I am satisfied that the allocations made, together with the income available to local authorities from other sources, will enable them to provide an acceptable level of service to their customers.