asked the Minister for Local Government whether the steps referred to by him as being taken by Kilkenny County Council in order to obtain outstanding moneys which were withheld from them by farmers in the course of the local National Farmers' Association campaign against the increase in rates include the cutting off of social assistance payments, such as home assistance, from members of families of farmers who have not paid the rates increase; and whether social assistance payments have been stopped by the Council in a case (name supplied) because the brother of the recipient has refused to pay the rates increase.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kilkenny Rates Payments.
7.
In the statement which I issued I said that steps are being taken to ensure that Kilkenny County Council is enabled to collect outstanding rates. I am not prepared to indicate what those steps are. As regards the last part of the question I have no information as to the action taken or proposed to be taken by the county council in particular cases.
Will the Minister ensure that in whatever action is taken home assistance recipients will be safeguarded?
Not only will the Minister not give such an undertaking but he is not in a position to give such an undertaking.
Is it not a fact that in this war between the local authority and the farmers in Kilkenny, in which I have no personal interest, the Minister has declared that the Offences against the State Act will be used? Is it not also a fact that the local authority in Kilkenny have taken the first step by taking a sum of 12/- from an unfortunate disabled lady as revenge for the fact that her brother took part in the withholding of rates from the local authority ? Would the Minister say now if it is a fact, or otherwise, that the Offences against the State Act is to be invoked against the weaker section of the community while the large farmers and the ranchers are left untouched ?
The Deputy is talking his usual nonsense.
Is it not the case that this lady who is disabled and in receipt of 12/- per week from the local authority is having that amount stopped because her brother, in company with others, is refusing to pay a certain amount of rates? Will the Minister say why the local authority does not take action against many of these men who can afford to pay ? They take action against a disabled person while men who could afford to lose a half a dozen bullocks or a hundred barrels of wheat are left untouched. This matter is to be treated in a very serious fashion and the Minister has said that the Offences against the State Act is to be invoked. Does the Minister say that it is still his intention to invoke the Offences against the State Act ?
What I have already said demonstrates fully that the Deputy is talking nonsense.