Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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425. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding his Department received directly from the Exchequer to substitute for funding previously obtained from the local government fund receipts relating to motor tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38788/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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In 2017 my Department received €1,810 million in total funding according to the Revised Estimates Volume as published. €1,442 million came from the Exchequer and €367.95 million came from appropriations-in-aid. Within the appropriations-in-aid €345.5 million was received from the local government fund.

Since my Department took over motor tax policy, the receipts from motor tax payments are paid directly to the Exchequer. They are no longer paid to the local government fund. My Department no longer receives an appropriation-in-aid from the local government fund.

In 2018 my Department received €2,029.8 million in total funding according to the latest Revised Estimates Volume as published. €2,005.3 million came from the Exchequer. €24.5 million came from appropriations-in-aid. However, under the new arrangements, these appropriations-in-aid came from sources other than the local government fund.

As the Deputy can see, the total funding in my Department’s Vote was increased significantly between 2017 and 2018. Funding in 2018 is therefore not directly comparable with that in 2017 which included a contribution from the local government fund. However, it is clear that my Department did not lose funding as result of the change in the treatment of the local government fund.