John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1720. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress made in implementing the high level intervention recommended in the 2013 report of the Waterford reorganisation implementation group (details supplied). [54601/17]

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority. 

Prior to unification, at the end of 2013, the combined revenue deficit of Waterford County Council, Dungarvan Town Council and Waterford City Council stood at €8.86m. The audited 2016 annual financial statement of Waterford City and County Council shows a revenue deficit of €7.62m, an improvement of €1.24m.

Prior to unification, at the end of 2013, the combined borrowings of the three authorities stood at €135m. The audited 2016 annual financial statement of Waterford City and County Council shows total borrowings of €125m, a reduction of €10m.

Savings from the reformed structures introduced in 2014 cannot be measured solely in terms of a reduction of overall expenditure or savings. The reforms have resulted in many non-financial benefits due to the single administrative structure across each county which has reduced duplication with improved services, which will bring about cost reduction over time.