Researchers from NUI Galway have launched the 2022 local authority website which shows council revenue incomes and spending on local public services.
It is aimed at improving the transparency and accountability of local authorities, the different sources of local council funding, from commercial rates, residential property tax, charges and fees and central government grants.
Users in Donegal can see the services provided by Donegal County Council, including spending on Local Authority and Traveller Housing, maintaining local roads, public lighting and parking facilities.
There is also a breakdown for water supply and waste management, planning, tourism and heritage, and local economic development, fire services, waste and litter management, leisure services and libraries and the administration of commercial rates and motor taxes, local representatives’ salaries and expenses.
In 2022, Donegal County Council has a budget of €162.3m and 32.9% (€53.42m) is allocated towards the maintenance of local roads, parking facilities and public lighting.
In total, local authorities plan on spending €6 billion in 2022, which is the largest day-to-day spending by the local government sector in Ireland.
Dr. Gerard Turley said of the website: “This project is aimed at promoting more informed public policy choices and decisions, by making local authority budgets easier for voters and citizens to access and understand.”
To find out more about your local authority’s budget for 2022, visit www.localauthorityfinances.com.
For further information contact the authors at gerard.turley@nuigalway.ie or stephen.mcnena@nuigalway.ie.