Funding from central government to local authorities totalled almost €6.04 billion in 2022, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General report, which represents a net increase of around €270 million on 2021, and up around 127% since 2017.
Over €3.2 billion was used for the provision of housing and €1.4 billion was used for investment in transport.
Covid-19 funding was down €440m on 2021.
Central government provided additional funding totalling €197m to local authorities in 2022 to mitigate the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on their operations.
Approximately €120 million of the funding in 2022 related to 2021.
The funding paid over in 2022 was mainly in the form of support for the local authorities for reduced commercial rates income due to rate waivers granted in response to Covid-19 restrictions.
The OPW provided local authorities with funding of around €28 million for flood relief works in 2022.
In 2022, as also was the case in 2021, funding of around €3 million was provided to Offaly and Longford County Councils to replace lost commercial rates receipts due to the previous closure of peat-fired power stations in their areas.
