asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will take steps to have agricultural land situate within the urban boundary of country towns included as agricultural land so as to come under the agricultural grants for the relief of rates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - De-rating of Town Lands.
The benefit of the agricultural grant already extends to agricultural land situate within the boundaries of urban districts constituted since the passing of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898. The question of the future application of a proportion of the grant to other urban districts is under consideration.
I have taken care to differentiate between land in country towns and land within the boundaries of cities and large towns which would have considerable value as potential building ground. There is a unanimous demand that agricultural land within the urban boundary of these small country towns should have the advantages to be derived from de-rating. Perhaps the Minister would bring in an amendment to this effect to the Bill which is at present going through the House?
This matter was dealt with fairly fully yesterday in the course of the debate. If the Deputy had been here, he would have got whatever information was to be obtained in the matter.
That does not answer the question. It is a very important matter. I am afraid that the Minister does not realise the importance of this matter to the agricultural holders in the urban areas of our country towns. I shall raise the matter on the Bill later.