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19/03/2014
Local Property Tax Funds Being Misused
Funds collected through the Local Property Tax are being misused, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Local Government, Brian Stanley, has claimed.
Deputy Stanley says that the latest figures regarding disbursement of funding from the Local Government Fund proves that the tax is being misused.
He also claimed that the attempt to make out that some rural authorities are benefitting at the expense of Dublin is false, as all local authorities will see their funding cut again in 2014.
Deputy Stanley said: "When I questioned the purpose of the Local Property Tax when it was being debated in the Dáil I was told that it would be used for 'parks, libraries and public lighting'. It now transpires that it is almost entirely being used to subvent Irish Water. On top of that all local authorities are once again for successive years having their allocation from the Local Government Fund slashed.
"In 2013 less than 60% of the Local Government Fund went for the purposes for which it is intended. I will be questioning the Minister when he returns as to the proportion which will be dispensed in 2014.
"I also reject the spin that some counties are benefitting at the expense of Dublin. It is claimed that Leitrim will receive just over €260 per person in 2014 from the LGF. Even if that is true it still represents a cut of almost €4 million in Leitrim County Council's allocation from the Local Government Fund in 2013."
(MH/JP)
Deputy Stanley says that the latest figures regarding disbursement of funding from the Local Government Fund proves that the tax is being misused.
He also claimed that the attempt to make out that some rural authorities are benefitting at the expense of Dublin is false, as all local authorities will see their funding cut again in 2014.
Deputy Stanley said: "When I questioned the purpose of the Local Property Tax when it was being debated in the Dáil I was told that it would be used for 'parks, libraries and public lighting'. It now transpires that it is almost entirely being used to subvent Irish Water. On top of that all local authorities are once again for successive years having their allocation from the Local Government Fund slashed.
"In 2013 less than 60% of the Local Government Fund went for the purposes for which it is intended. I will be questioning the Minister when he returns as to the proportion which will be dispensed in 2014.
"I also reject the spin that some counties are benefitting at the expense of Dublin. It is claimed that Leitrim will receive just over €260 per person in 2014 from the LGF. Even if that is true it still represents a cut of almost €4 million in Leitrim County Council's allocation from the Local Government Fund in 2013."
(MH/JP)
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