€5.2m increase in local government funding a major boost for Waterford – Coffey

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has today (Friday) welcomed news from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, that Waterford will receive an increase of €5.2 million in local government funding for next year. In 2014 Waterford will receive €37.2 million, up from €32 million this year. This is something that I have been working closely with the Minister on and it now affords the elected members of the Council scope to offset the effect of rates increases due to the revaluation process.

“Waterford’s two local authorities will be amalgamated after next year’s local elections and a huge amount of work has been on-going by the two authorities to streamline services and reduce costs. Minister Hogan recognises the challenges faced in Waterford as a result of the amalgamation and is acutely aware of the new rates that are due to come into effect on 1st January 2014. With that in mind, Minister Hogan has agreed to substantially increase the funding for Waterford Local Authority next year by over €5 million.

“I have worked closely with Fine Gael City and County Councillors on this issue over the course of the last number of months and they, in turn, have worked with Minister Hogan and I on this matter. I am also aware that the Waterford City Centre Business Group and its chairperson, Eddie Mulligan, have been extremely active on this matter and I have engaged in extensive consultation with them over time. I am pleased that these efforts have reaped rewards and this positive news allows elected members the opportunity to offset any increases in business rates for next year that would support the 1,500 jobs in Waterford city centre.

“This positive news will now allow the scope for Councillors and the executive of the Council to decide how best this additional funding should be spent. I am calling on them to ensure that business rates for are kept as low as possible to support jobs in Waterford city and that frontline services are enhanced as much as possible.”

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