asked the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to set up a Commission to inquire into the question of de-rating in Saorstát Eireann; and, if so, if he will state the personnel of same and its terms of reference; if he will state when he expects the Commission to report, and whether he has requested the Commission to report in time for him to give effect to its recommendations in the next Budget.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - De-rating Commission.
It is proposed to set up a Commission of Inquiry into De-rating in Saorstát Eireann.
As regards personnel, letters have been issued to a number of persons inviting them to act on the Commission. Acceptances have not yet been received in all cases, and an announcement on the subject will be made at as early a date as possible.
As regards the terms of reference of the Commission, these will be as follows:—
To enquire and report to the Minister for Finance as to
(1) The effect on production and employment of local rates at present levied on agricultural land and buildings and industrial and freight transport hereditaments;
(2) The probable economic consequences, including in particular the effect on production, employment, taxation and the cost of living, of affording partial or complete relief from such rates by means of contributions from the Exchequer to local authorities, or alternatively by transferring to the Central Government the administration of particular services at present administered by local authorities;
(3) The effect of affording such relief on the existing system of local government, including local financial administration, and any modifications of that system which would thereby be rendered desirable;
(4) The basis on which Exchequer Grants are at present distributed to local authorities, and whether, and if so in what manner, that basis could be so modified as to secure increased agricultural and industrial production as a consequence of distributing the grants.
I do not intend to request the Commission to report before any stated date, and I am unable to say when the Commission is likely to present its report.
asked the Minister for Finance whether, in appointing the Commission on De-rating he has taken into account the position of the County of Donegal; whether he is aware that de-rating in Northern Ireland has increased the competition of Northern farmers as against the farmers of Donegal: and whether he will consider adding to the Commission a member who will be familiar with the conditions prevailing in Donegal.
In preparing the list of persons to whom invitations to act on the Commission of Inquiry into De-rating were sent the Government took all relevant factors into consideration. It will, of course, be a matter for the Commission to have regard to any special conditions that may exist in Donegal when framing their recommendations.
How does the Minister propose to get that information, if he has not anybody from that part of the country on the Commission?
The Commission will hear evidence.
Does the Minister realise that there is a greater percentage of arable land tilled in Donegal than in any other county and, in view of the fact that a number of people on the Commission from Dublin have no practical experience with regard to farming, will he give consideration to the question of appointing a representative from the County Donegal Committee of Agriculture, as suggested in the question?
No. I think it would be impossible to have all the interests represented. There is one representative from a Border county, because, in some ways, the Border counties are most keenly interested, shall we say. One person has been asked from a Border county and he has accepted.
Is the Minister not aware that it is only in the Border counties they feel this grievance at all?
Of course the solution will affect every county.