andMr. Timmins asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state in respect of each of the years 1956-57 and 1971-72 the average rate payable in the £.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Rates.
98.
The average of the rates struck by local authorities in 1956-57 and 1971-72 were 37s 3d and 535 new pence in the pound respectively.
99.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider the introduction of a scheme whereby persons who pay their rates by August of each year will be granted a percentage rebate.
In their second interim report the inter-Departmental Committee on Local Finance and Taxation recommended against the introduction of such a scheme and gave fairly cogent reasons for their conclusions. They recommended instead that provision be made for payment of rates by instalment; this was accepted and implemented in the Local Government (Rates) Act, 1970. However, the suggestion of a discount scheme can be considered again in the review of local taxation on which, as I have indicated, a White Paper will be published.