Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Local Government Audit Service report on Financial Management Reporting in Local Authorities (Report No. 24) published in 2007, recommended that financial management reports should be provided to the elected council on a regular basis, at least quarterly, to support councillors in their financial governance role in local authorities; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the management of Sligo County Council has consistently failed to comply with these recommendations and that the management of Sligo County Council, has despite requests from the elected council, failed to provide reports on the council's finances; if he will consider introducing regulations to compel the council management to provide the elected council with quarterly financial reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27758/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the Local Government Audit Service recommendation in this regard. Section 105 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that a local authority may, by resolution, require the preparation and submission to its members of statements of the financial position of the local authority. In the case of City and County Councils, where such a resolution has not been passed, the Council's Corporate Policy Group may require the preparation and submission to its members of statements of the financial position of the Council. I understand that the Corporate Policy Group in Sligo County Council receives such statements on a quarterly basis.

It is a matter for each local authority, including Sligo County Council, to manage its own day-to-day finances in a prudent and sustainable manner. I have no plans to make any legislative changes in relation to this matter at this time.