(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Local Government what steps he intends to take to relieve the ever-increasing burden of rates and if he will state the nature of the supplementary forms of local revenue for the financing of these local services, to which the Taoiseach has referred.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rates Relief.
44.
Investigations into the system of local taxation and finance, including rating, are at present in progress. As part of these inquiries the practicability of devising supplementary forms of local revenue to finance local services is being examined but it is not yet possible to indicate what the results of this examination may be.
Who is conducting the inquiry?
There is a committee of the House on the health services side; there is a departmental committee set up by me some time ago; and, of course, a more important investigation is being made by the Economic Research Institute.
45.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether, in connection with the Taoiseach's recent statement in relation to local rates, he is investigating the question of relieving the present very high rates operative throughout the country; and what steps he has in mind for this purpose.
As indicated in my reply to a question by Deputy Donegan on 12th March, 1964, the possibility of further alleviating the burden of local rates is receiving consideration as part of the various investigations which are at present in progress into various aspects of local finance and taxation. At this stage of the inquiry I cannot say what action may be possible.
Apart from an immediate solution of aid towards reducing the burden of rates, has the Minister anything in mind on the lines of a regionalisation scheme for local authorities——
That, surely, is outside the question altogether.
Question No. 45?
Yes.
I have asked in relation to the Taoiseach's statement— and I presume the Taoiseach's statement was not for the purpose of dealing with this year's rates but was an idea for the future that the Government had in mind——
That is not regionalisation. This is local rates.
With regard to the Taoiseach's statement, that the Government had in mind certain ideas, would they be improved by what I have suggested, namely, regionalisation, or is the whole question of local taxation——
That is outside the scope of the question.
So far as I can see, I am the only person in this House you do not intend to allow to ask questions.
Oh, dear. Question No. 46.
Would you allow the Minister to answer?
I am calling Question No. 46.
Will the Minister not reply to the question I asked?
I would be out of order if I replied.