asked the Minister for Local Government if he proposes to introduce proposals for legislation to allow the full rebate of rates to farmers who employ a workman for nine months of the year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rebate of Rates of Farmers.
The reply is in the negative.
Could the Minister say why?
It would take some time to explain to the Deputy that the purpose of the grant was to enable permanent employment to be given and that it was not meant to be an employment subsidy.
Is the Minister aware that in many parts of the country men are not employed on a permanent basis all the year round, that the custom for quite a long time has been to employ them for a specified period, usually nine or ten months, in certain counties in the South; and would the Minister consider the advisability of amending the present legislation to bring it into line with the conditions that prevail in those areas?