asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state why he proposes to introduce proposals forlegislation to amend the Rates on Agricultural Land (Relief) Act, 1946, which will change the present financial year; and, further, the effect this change will have in County Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Land.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state, in respect of each county council, the amount that would have been payable by way of agricultural grant for the year 1953-54 under (a) existing legislation and (b) the new basis indicated to county councils by circular 3/53 dated 20th May, 1953; and, further, the total amount payable over the country as a whole under each method.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together. The subject matter of these questions will be dealt with in my Second Reading speech on a Bill which I propose to introduce in the near future.
Is the Minister not going to give us the information for which we asked so that we may judge that Bill when it comes before the House?
It is not usual to give it, in the first place, and it would not be possible for me to give some of it, in the second place, inasmuch as it would take the officials of the different county councils to work out replies to part of the question which the Deputy has addressed to me.
Is it usual for the Minister to give directions to local authorities that, pending the introduction of such legislation, rate demand notes should be made out and furnished as if such legislation had been enacted?
The Minister can only do so with the consent of the Government. I may say that such consent was sought in order to enable local bodies to prepare their demand notes, and so forth.
Is there statutory authority for that?
There is not, but it is a practice that has always been followed.It has been done very often before. There has been no departure from the general practice in that regard.
Is it not a fact that every county council authority in the country will lose as a result of this legislation?
As I say, I could not answer that question. It could only be replied to by the officials in each county working on the basis of the scheme that has been outlined to them in that circular.
Is it out of the ordinary run that in the county council of Kildare we should be losing £29,000 and that in the county district of Wicklow they will be losing £11,000?
Will the Minister say if the proposals are intended to impose an increased charge on the taxpayer?
The Deputy, of course, would not be expected to be aware of the fact. It is a fact that it is not usual to say what these proposals will contain until they are presented to the House.
Can we be clear that the Minister has not taken action with regard to local bodies that would require normally a Financial Resolution here because it involves the expenditure of money? I take it that we can take that as being so and that, therefore, the Minister's proposal must be to get money from the rates rather than to impose additional taxation?
I know that I can be clear myself but I can never speak for the Deputy in that regard.
If the Minister will not give that information now, can we have an undertaking that the Tánaiste will not go to a dinner in Bray and give the information?
I was not asked.
But you did it the other day.