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| Press Release: Environment 6 January 2006 Links to: All Press Releases 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Dún Laoghaire, Environment and Justice Press Releases
Greens call on Roche to publish review of Local Government Funding immediately The Green Party today called on Minister for the Environment and Local Government Dick Roche TD to publish a review of local government financing commissioned by his Department in 2004. The review was completed by Indecon Economic Consultants and presented to the Minister in November 2005, but is still awaiting publication. Green Party Environment and Local Government spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD stated that, "Indecon presented their report to the Minister in November of last year. The Minister promised to bring the recommendations contained in the report to Cabinet in the following weeks. I understand that the report was considered at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting (4 January 2006). The report should now be published." "It is no secret that a number of the findings, such as the suggestion to introduce a property tax on second homes, will not sit well with the Fianna Fáil vote. No doubt the Minister fears the negative reception some of these proposals will receive." "The Green Party believes that local government should be strengthened. This will only happen if powers are devolved from central government, and if local government is given greater financial independence. "The Minister must stop playing the popularity game and recognise that our current system of local government funding is simply not sustainable. This important review should be published without delay", concluded Deputy Cuffe.
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