Commuter counties underfunded, says TD

County councils in the greater Dublin area are among the most poorly funded in the Republic, with Louth, Fingal, Kildare, Wexford and Meath "among those at the bottom of the league", according to Labour Party environment spokesman Eamon Gilmore.

Mr Gilmore said his analysis showed that 10 of the "most underfunded" county councils were in the Dublin commuter belt - a region where, he insisted, there was the greatest need for investment in planning, enforcement, affordable housing, playgrounds and a range of local authority services from roads to waste water treatment plants.

However, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has rejected the assertions, claiming they did not take into account other sources of local authority funding such as commercial rates - or the lack of such opportunities in rural, less developed regions.

Mr Gilmore said yesterday that of the €868 million provided for the Local Government Fund for 2007, some of the lowest per capita spending was in the "commuter belt counties, which are faring very badly".

"The average spend per head of population across the country is €205. However, the figure for South Dublin County Council, for example, is just over half that, at €106". If any counties were in need of greater investment, it was commuter counties.

"These councils are crying out for resources in areas like planning and enforcement; the provision of social and affordable housing; the provision of playgrounds; and the delivery of roads. They're simply not getting that money."

A pattern had emerged which was similar to spending on the provision of schools, public transport, healthcare and policing, where, he said, commuter belt communities were being left behind.

Mr Roche said spending on local government was undertaken using a "ways and means model" to support counties where there would not be a good commercial rate base.