Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will increase funding to an authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37180/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am providing some €870m in general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund to local authorities in 2010. These grants are my contribution to meeting the difference between the cost to local authorities of providing a reasonable level of day to day services and the income available to them from local sources and from specific grants.

Clare County Council's general purpose allocation for 2010 is €13,986,912, a reduction of 6.02% over the 2009 allocation. However, general purpose grants to Clare County Council have increased by some 381% since 1997, which is more than twice the average increase to local authorities over that period.

I am satisfied that the general purpose allocation I have provided to Clare County Council for 2010, together with the income available to it from other sources, will enable it to provide a reasonable level of services to its customers.

I will continue to contribute to the general purpose funding of local authorities to the best extent possible, having regard to the current pressures on the public finances and motor tax income. Local authorities will also continue to have access to an additional source of funding through the charge on non-principal private residences.