asked the Minister for the Environment the estimated total revenue lost to the State by the abolition of rates on private houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Abolition of Rates.
23.
The amount expected to be recouped to local authorities from my Department's Vote in 1978 in respect of the derating of domestic property is estimated to be £78.7 mil-lions, of which approximately £9.6 millions relates to local authority dwellings.
Presumably the Minister has now had an opportunity of weighing up the alternative value of the remission of car tax and rates as opposed to taxes on children's allowances and food subsidies. Does he propose to take up any position in the coming months on whether these taxes should be reimposed and children's allowances and food subsidies be left untouched?
That is a separate question. It relates to the function of another Minister.
There is no question of rating private houses.