asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the total amount of the moneys withheld or liable to be withheld from each county council because of the non-payment of land annuities due to be paid during (1) the year ended 31st March, 1933, and (2) the year ended 31st March, 1934; and the total amount so withheld or liable to be withheld from each county council on 1st April, 1934.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Non-Payment of Annuities—Withheld Grants.
All arrears of land annuities payable in the year ended 31st March, 1933, were funded under the Land Act, 1933, and out of the sum of £300,000 proposed to be paid in respect of grants absorbed in the Guarantee Fund on account of arrears of annuities that have been funded, county councils will receive credit for all grants accruing to them in that financial year.
The full agricultural grant was issued within the financial year.
As regards the year ended 31st March, 1934, a sum of £398,996 2s. 4d. was absorbed in the Guarantee Fund in respect of arrears of annuities for the November/December, 1933, gale.
I will arrange to have sent to the Deputy particulars of the share of each county in this sum.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, am I correct in thinking that he calls the £300,000 promised for the relief of rates, or whatever it is, a grant? Was there not an undertaking given by the Minister in charge of the Land Bill that these moneys would go as a matter of right to the county councils in lump sums to be paid by the Minister for Finance? Further, might I ask the Minister when is it proposed officially to inform the councils that this money will be available, and will he indicate the amount available in each county? As the Minister knows, the rate books are being written up and it will mean scrapping a lot of work done if the rate books have to be altered.
There will be no question of scrapping the rate books or re-writing or altering the rate books, because the sum allotted to each county council will, we hope, be used by them for the purpose of being put to the credit of their overdrafts. The details of the sum available for each county will be notified to each county council in a few days.
Am I to understand that the £300,000 is not going to be used in relief of the current rate?
That is so.
If it is going to be used in relief of the current rate, surely the rate struck on the basis of not getting this £300,000 must be altered?
I think the Deputy misunderstood me. I expect the £300,000 will be used by the county councils in order to be put to the credit of their overdrafts—in relief of their overdrafts—not for the purpose of the reduction of the rate now about to be struck.
But surely that cannot happen. If a county council gets a sum of money within the financial year that it was not expecting to get, surely it can reduce its rate for that year to the extent of that amount?
It does not follow.
Well, I will leave it to the Minister to consider the matter. Could he give any indication when the moneys will be made available and if the county councils will be officially informed that it is being given?
That will be done in a few days.
The Minister said he was circulating some information to county councils. Will the information be printed in the Parliamentary records?
Yes.