Councils ‘must freeze charges’
Mr Roche said he expected all local authorities to achieve greater efficiencies as a “quid pro quo” for increased funding announced in the 2005 Estimates yesterday.
The minister said he expected major savings could be obtained through the delivery of more efficient services as he believed no public body was operating at 100% of its capacity.
As a result, Mr Roche said he would look “very harshly” at any attempt by a local authority to finance wage increases via increased charges on public services.
“The reform of local government structures must now begin to show real improvements. I will expect real improvements in delivery, customer service and efficiency and plain hard work,” said the minister.
He pointed out that an 8% increase in the Local Government Fund to over €488m, combined with motor tax revenue, would provide realistic increases in general purpose grants to local authorities.
Speaking at a press briefing on the 2005 Book of Estimates, Mr Roche said his department had secured overall record funding of almost €2.5bn.
He promised expenditure would be directed to programmes to improve water and air quality, housing and roads as well as heritage.
“The increase demonstrates the Government’s determined efforts to deal with Ireland’s infrastructural deficits and to deliver a world class local government system,” Mr Roche added.
Although there is provision for a 3% increase in motor tax revenues next year, Mr Roche said this did not necessarily imply that motor tax rates would be increased in next month’s Budget as there was already buoyancy in income from this source.
Although it represents a drop in funding of 1%, the minister said a provision of €434m in 2005 would enable Ireland to meet EU and international standards on wastewater discharges and water quality.
Housing Minister Noel Ahern said a 6% increase in the overall housing budget to €1.2bn would include a €25m programme to install central heating in 45,000 existing council houses.
Mr Ahern said the department would also be able to provide accommodation for 13,000 people currently on waiting lists.
While welcoming a 9% rise in the budget for social and affordable housing, the homeless organisation, Focus Ireland, said total expenditure would again fail to meet the Government’s own housing targets.
:
Overall budget to rise by 6% to almost €2.5 billion.
Expenditure on social and affordable housing to increase 9% to €1.1 billion.
No increase in budget for environmental programme including water services and environmental protection.
8% increase in funding for local authorities to €556.3m in 2005.
Heritage spending to rise 22% to €69.5m.
A €370m capital programme for non-national roads.
An 11% increase in funding of An Bord Pleanála.
Almost doubling of budget for National Parks and Wildlife Service to over €35m.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
