SINN FÉIN IS to hold a protest tomorrow outside the monthly meeting of Dublin City Council in response to the decision of the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan to reduce funding for the Council based on the level of Household Charge collection.

Sinn Féin’s Mícheál Mac Donncha described the move as “an attack by the Fine Gael/Labour Government on local services for the citizens and communities of Dublin City”.

Sinn Féin Councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha, chairperson of the Council’s Finance Committee, said: “In 2011 Dublin City Council was allocated €60.2 million from the Local Government Fund which is disbursed centrally by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. In Budget 2012 this was reduced to €54.8 million.”

“Now the Council has been told by Minister Hogan’s Department that this is further reduced to €50.1 million. And the minister has directly linked the reduction to the level of collection of the Household Charge in Dublin Cit… It is outrageous for a minister to slash the funding for local government in mid-year, significantly reducing the allocation signalled at the start of the year. It typifies the slash and burn approach of this Government.”

Sinn Féin is to table an emergency motion at the monthly meeting of Dublin City Council on Monday 3 September, reading:

In light of the impending financial crisis facing Dublin City Council and local authorities throughout this State, Dublin City Council calls on the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan TD to reverse the cuts in the Local Government Fund and restore adequate funding for local democracy and the provision of Council services to our citizens and communities.

We deplore the Circular from the Minister’s Department to all local authorities announcing further reductions in the Local Government Fund and linking reductions of funding for individual Councils, including Dublin City Council, to the level of collection of the inequitable and uncollectible Household Charge. We call for the replacement of the Household Charge with reformed, equitable taxation based on ability to pay and we warn against the imposition of a further unjust charge based on the market value of homes and without regard to ability to pay.

- Cllrs Larry O’Toole, Críona Ní Dhálaigh, Anthony Connaghan, Séamus McGrattan, Mícheál Mac Donncha.

The protest will be held outside City Hall at 6pm on Monday 3 September