(Cavan) asked the Minister for Local Government if he will arrange that ratepayers whose only source of income over a lengthy period in any financial year is social welfare benefit will be entitled to have their rates remitted.
17.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rates Remission.
16.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will exempt from the payment of rates all old age pensioners and social welfare recipients who have no other income.
18.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has any proposals for the early amendment of the rating law with particular reference to his review of the arrangements for dealing with the rates liability of necessitous persons.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 16, 17 and 18 together.
The Government have approved of my proposals for amending legislation to enable rating authorities to grant relief from the payment of rates to necessitous persons in accordance with approved local schemes. Under the proposed legislation it will be obligatory on each local authority adopting such a scheme to make provision in it for the waiving of rates due by specified classes of ratepayers, such as recipients of non-contributory old-age pensions and other similar forms of social assistance. It is intended that schemes to be drawn up by rating authorities will be flexible enough to permit of the granting of relief also in other appropriate cases, and that the reliefs will apply in relation to the forthcoming financial year.
The proposed amending legislation will also confer an entitlement on certain classes of ratepayers to opt to pay their rates in instalments, spread over the whole or the greater part of the financial year, in accordance with instalment schemes to be drawn up by local authorities. Local authorities are being asked to ensure that, so far as the necessary administrative arrangements permit, the proposed instalment schemes will be brought into operation in relation to the coming year.
I welcome the promise of legislation, but could the Minister tell us when this legislation will be introduced?
Very shortly. It is intended the reliefs will apply in the coming financial year.
(Cavan): Does that mean the Minister would issue a direction to local authorities that legislation will be introduced and that they will, in the meantime, be covered by it in respect of the financial year 1969-70?
Yes.