Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 8

Written Answers. - Agriculture Rates Arrears.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

28 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to issue directions to local authorities regarding the collection of the £19.9 million in unpaid agricultural rates which was outstanding at the end of 1987; the reason no post-1987 figures are available for the collection of outstanding agricultural rates; whether any outstanding rates have been collected by local authorities since 31 December 1987; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12330/96]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Ms McManus)

It is a matter for each local authority to decide the action, it any, to be taken in relation to the collection of outstanding amounts and there are no proposals to issue ministerial directions in this regard. I am aware that many local authorities have written off the amounts due, on the basis — which would be generally accepted — that the terms of the High Court and Supreme Court judgments have rendered such amounts uncollectable. In these circumstances, my Department took the view that the collection of statistics for the period since 1987 would not serve any useful purpose.