Local councils that have worked hard reduce their deficits can expect to be rewarded for their efforts to balance the books, Local Government parliamentary secretary Stefan Buontempo has said. 

"Local councils which have worked hard in tackling the council’s deficit in a sustained and progressive way will see us support them in their future initiatives and projects in favour of their communities," Dr Buontempo said during a meeting with the Northern Regional Committee. 

Support would be offered in a "sustainable" manner so as not to undo the good work they have done to achieve financial stability, he added. 

Dr Buontempo said that the Northern Regional Committee had this year been allocated €8.5 million, which represented a 10 per cent increase when compared to its 2016 budget. 

Local councils tend to struggle with their bookkeeping, with the National Audit Office's yearly reports regularly finding significant shortcomings in councils' accounts. 

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