Speaking last night at the presentation of Dublin City Council’s €1.48bn budget for 2025, the council’s Chief Executive, Richard Shakespeare, said the funding shortfall “raises his blood pressure”.
He told councillors that the cost of providing 14 ambulances in Dublin Fire Brigade was roughly €28m annually.
“We get approximately €9m from the HSE, leaving a shortfall across the four Dublin local authorities of €19m, about €10m of which is ours,” he said.
Mr Shakespeare said he had engaged “quite extensively over the last two or three months” with the HSE and the Department of Health, but despite the intervention of Minister for Housing and Local Government, Darragh O’Brien, a “derisory” sum was offered.
“I am not even going to tell you the derisory offer that was made, but needless to say my second word was ‘… off’, and we’re now at a bit of an impasse,” he said.
Mr Shakespeare added that because there was no contract in place between the HSE and DCC, using the courts to secure the funding wouldn’t be an option.
“The HSE has completely disrespected the competence and professionalism of Dublin Fire Brigade and their paramedics and advanced paramedics,” he said.
Fine Gael councillor Ray McAdam said the budget provided a clearer picture of how senior officials in government departments view local authorities like Dublin City Council.
The cost of providing 14 ambulances in Dublin Fire Brigade is roughly €28m annually
“Effectively, they see us as excrement on their shoes,” he said. “They see us as a little quango they can boss and indeed bully around the place.
“It is no clearer than in the approach of the HSE and Department of Health officials on their failure to engage meaningfully on the shortfall in funding to DCC and other local authorities around Dublin Fire Brigade contributions.”
Councillors passed the 2025 budget of €1.48bn – a €140m increase on 2024 – which included a 1.8pc increase in the commercial rates multiplier.
Social Democrats councillor Eoin Hayes criticised the increase in rates given the current struggles facing many businesses in the city.
“I am stunned by the measures in this budget to increase commercial rates. It’s unconscionable when more and more small businesses right across the city are closing,” he said.
“What is pro-enterprise about increasing costs on businesses in our city?”
A significant portion of Dublin City Council’s budget increase for next year is directed towards the Housing and Building Division, with operational expenditure in this area rising to €738m, up from €637.6m in 2024.
This includes an additional €59.3m for Homeless Services and €22.5m for Long-Term Leasing.
Income from Housing and Building is expected to reach €627.6m in 2025, compared to €539.7m the previous year.
The cost of providing homeless services continues to rise.
In 2025, the total cost for the Dublin region will amount to €35.3m, with Dublin City Council required to cover €13.3m of this, representing an €8.7m increase over the previous year.
The HSE has been contacted for comment.
