Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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342. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the projected income for each local authority in 2015 from the local property tax as well as a breakdown of the funding that the same local authorities would have normally received from the central government fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28445/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Effective from 1 July 2014, local authorities may vary the rate of Local Property Tax (LPT) in their administrative area for the following year by up to 15% of the basic rate of the Tax. The decision must be taken by resolution of the Council and must be notified to the Revenue Commissioners by 30 September in order to apply for the following year.

It is not possible for me to pre-empt the decisions that may be made in that regard nor to anticipate the overall expected income from LPT for 2015, which is matter for the Minister for Finance.

The power to vary LPT has been given to local authorities to further increase their autonomy. Elected members are already responsible for finalising the annual budget of the local authority – it is a reserved function for them – and the power to vary LPT rates will enable them to directly influence the level of LPT income they have to meet their expenditure requirements in the future.

I understand that the Revenue Commissioners released details of the levels of LPT collected in local authority areas in 2013 earlier this year and, more recently, provided details of the levels of LPT collected so far in 2014, which should provide a useful information source for local authorities; this information is available on the Revenue website –

The local government funding model will change considerably in 2014/2015 and the overall impact will need to be assessed, including the implications for the Exchequer and broader Local Government Fund management issues. The management of the impacts on the overall Exchequer finances will primarily be a matter for the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform and I will continue to work closely with them in the context of the overall Estimates preparations for 2015, as normal.

I assume that the reference in the question to a breakdown of funding received from the central Government fund relates to the General Purpose Grant allocations for local authorities from the Local Government Fund; the 2014 allocations are set out in the table below.