asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the year in which the rural improvements scheme first came into operation, (b) the contributions required from the applicants under the scheme at that time, (c) the year in which the first change was made in the scheme, (d) the contributions required from the applicants as a result of that change, (e) the date on which he made the recent change, (f) the contributions required from the applicants as a result, and (g) the reasons for the change.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Improvements Scheme.
As the reply includes some tabular statements, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it in the Official Report.
The reply is as follows:—
(a) 1943.
(b) 25 per cent., but lower rates could be accepted in special cases, as, e.g., link roads, and other roads which apart from their value to the individual farmers whose lands or houses adjoin them, are used by other members of the community.
(c) 1950.
(d) 1950 Scale of Contribution.
|
Average Rateable Valuation (lands only) |
Number of beneficiaries |
Local contribution |
|
% |
||
|
Below £6 |
6 or less |
5 |
|
7 |
5? |
|
|
8 |
6? |
|
|
9 and over |
7 |
|
|
£6 and below £7 |
6 or less |
8 |
|
7 |
9? |
|
|
8 and over |
10 |
|
|
£7 and below £9 |
6 or less |
11 |
|
7 |
12? |
|
|
8 and over |
13 |
|
|
£9 and below £12 |
6 or less |
15 |
|
7 and over |
17 |
|
|
£12 and below £18 |
6 or less |
20 |
|
7 and over |
22 |
|
|
£18 and over |
2 or more |
25 |
NOTES: (i) the above rates, except the 25% rate, were abated by one-fifth on expenditure over £300 and up to £600, and by two-fifths on expenditure over £600.
(ii) lower rates of contribution could be accepted for works affording a substantial measure of general public utility.
(e) 20th July, 1957.
(f) 1957 Scale of Contributions.
|
Average Rateable Valuation (lands only) |
Local Contribution |
|
% |
|
|
Below £6 |
10 |
|
£6 and below £7 |
12½ |
|
£7 ,, ,, £8 |
15 |
|
£8 ,, ,, £10 |
17½ |
|
£10 ,, ,, £12 |
20 |
|
£12 ,, ,, £15 |
22½ |
|
£15 ,, ,, £18 |
25 |
|
£18 ,, ,, £25 |
30 |
|
£25 ,, ,, £50 |
35 |
|
£50 ,, ,, £100 |
40 |
|
£100 and over |
50 |
NOTE: Lower rates of contribution can be accepted where a scheme affords a substantial measure of general public utility.
(g) The scheme was curtailed during the latter part o the financial year 1956-57 and the beginning o 1957-58 as a result of decisions taken by the Government of the day (i) to make reduced financial provision for 1956-57 and (ii) to make a further reduction in the provision for 1957-58. These financial arrangements involved the suspension of offers of grants in outstanding cases and a close-down on the receipt of new applications. The present Government decided to re-establish the scheme on a sounder basis by increasing the 1957-58 Vote provision from £150,000 to £200,000 and by requiring beneficiaries to contribute a somewhat higher proportion of the total cost. The revised scale of contributions was based on the considerations that the benefits afforded to landholders by the carrying out of these works were such as to allow ample margins for an increase in the rates of contribution without imposing hardship, and that the applicants willingness to bear a reasonable proportion of the total cost, according to their means, would ensure that the available State grant would be applied towards the most urgent and necessary schemes.