Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Sligo County Council has had the highest overall deficit balance of all county and city councils, as outlined in their respective annual financial statements for the financial years ending 31 December 2008, 31 December 2009 and 31 December 2010, that Sligo County Council had a deficit of €2,815,649 for the year ending 31 December 2008, a deficit of €3,232,961 for the year ending 31 December 2009 and a deficit of €2,463,505 for the year ending 31 December 2010 and on the 31 December 2010 Sligo County Council had a total closing overall deficit balance of €9,981,616; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the council increased its overdraft facility from €5 million to €7.5 million in March 2011 and is now seeking approval from him to further increase its overdraft from €7.5 million to €11 million; if he intends to continue approving increased overdraft facilities for Sligo County Council; if he is satisfied that the council's finances are being managed in a sustainable manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26694/11]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the personnel that participated in the meeting in Ballymote, County Sligo on 20 May 2011, at which he discussed the financial position and funding challenges facing Sligo County Council; if minutes or notes were taken at the meeting; if he or his Department have any record, report or documentation in respect of this meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26755/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 134 together.

It is a matter for each local authority, including Sligo County Council, to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard both to locally identified needs and available resources. It is also a matter for individual local authorities to manage their own day-to-day finances in a prudent and sustainable manner. I met with the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council and the Sligo County Manager on 20 May 2011. At this meeting the financial position and the funding challenges facing the Council were briefly discussed with a view to further exploration between my Department and the Council of appropriate arrangements to reduce the deficit over time. There was no specific documentation in respect of the meeting.

In 2011 local authorities have budgeted to spend some €7bn in total between current and capital programmes. The main sources of funding include current and capital income, grants and subsidies. In addition, limited debt finance, including overdraft, is available to local authorities as necessary to finance their expenditure. My Department is considering Sligo County Council's current request for an overdraft for capital and current expenditure purposes in consultation with Council officials. A decision on this request will be made as soon as possible. My Department considers individual overdraft requests from local authorities on a case by case basis.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Sligo Borough Council in its application for funding for the Cranmore regeneration project for 2011 sought funding in respect of improvement works to facilitate the pedestrianisation of O'Connell Street, Sligo; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the former Minister of State with responsibility for housing approved funding of €500,000 for said improvement works; if he has recently received correspondence form Sligo Borough Council indicating that the improvement works will not proceed in the current year and, rather than return the €500,000 to his Department if Sligo Borough Council may use the €500,000 for alternative remedial works on local authority and private housing in the Cranmore estate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26719/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I refer to the reply to Question No 343 of 20 September, 2011. My Department has not so far received any claim from Sligo Borough Council for recoupment of expenditure in respect of the planning and design phase of the proposed works at O'Connell Street. However, my Department approved a proposal by the Council in June 2011 to refurbish up to 53 local authority owned houses in the Cranmore estate at an estimated cost of €445,000. Expenditure this year on Cranmore housing and on any costs arising on the O'Connell Street project will be met from the €2m allocation for regeneration. So far, no proposal has been received from the Borough Council in relation to further improvement works to houses in the Cranmore estate. It will be a matter for Sligo Borough Council in the context of the regeneration masterplanning process to determine the nature and extent of future refurbishment works in the estate.