Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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69. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate the formula for the way the discretionary fund amounting to 35% of revenues directed to the Local Government Fund will be allocated by his Department; if there will be a specific needs and resources model employed to decide the way that funds will be directed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20300/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the Question refers to general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund. General purpose grants are my Department’s contribution towards meeting the cost to local authorities of providing a reasonable level of services to their customers. Local authorities’ cost and income bases vary significantly from one another and calculating an appropriate distribution of these grants is complex. General purpose grants are structured to bring about equalisation over time; that is a position of balance where the financial needs of local authorities are met by their resources and they are able to provide an appropriate level of service to their customers.

Some €640 m in general purpose grants has been allocated to local authorities for 2013. In addition, local authorities will retain some €76 million in pension related deductions in 201 3. I am satisfied that the general purpose allocations provided for 2013 , together with the income available from other sources, will enable local authorities to provide a reasonable level of services to their customers.