64.—(1) Before the commencement of each financial year the Commissioner must prepare an estimate of the amount of the expenses of the Commissioner under this Act.
(2) The Department must apportion the amount estimated in accordance with subsection (1) between all the councils in Northern Ireland in such manner as the Department, after consultation in accordance with subsection (3), considers appropriate.
(3) The Department must consult—
(a)councils; and
(b)such associations or bodies representative of councils as appear to the Department to be appropriate,
about the manner in which the amount mentioned in subsection (2) is to be apportioned.
(4) The Department may deduct from any grant payable under section 27A of the Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 to a council for a financial year the amount apportioned to it under subsection (2).