asked the Minister for Local Government if he will give favourable consideration to increasing the £17 abatement of rates for agricultural workers in view of the strong recommendation by the Donegal County Council for such an increase.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rates Abatement.
14.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 21 by Deputy Esmonde on 19th May, 1965.
Is the Minister aware that in County Meath the rate is 35/5d. in the £ as compared with the rate of 72/5d. in County Donegal, so that the £17 abatement to the Meath farmer is equivalent to a valuation of £34 to a Donegal farmer who is in receipt of only £17. Would he not consider this and make some allowance at least for the counties on the western seaboard?
I am aware of that situation but I am also aware that 89 per cent of the farmers of County Donegal have valuations of under £20 and that any increase under this heading would not be of any value to them. At least 89 per cent of them would not benefit by one penny if this were increased. Apart from this, the question of increasing the employment allowance is one which has been considered on a number of occasions and while other benefits have been increased by way of a reduction in rates to the farmers, this one has not been changed and I do not think that any strong case can be made for changing it now, any more than was made in the past.
The Minister states that it would not benefit many farmers in County Donegal but he must be aware that the Donegal County Council has sent a recommendation to the Minister and his Department asking them to implement such a scheme. As the Minister's party in the majority in that county council, surely that might influence him.
Four-fifths of the rates of 89 per cent of the farmers in my county and other western counties are abated already by way of agricultural grants.
It is also so for the Meath farmer.
This is a situation which cannot be got over, regardless of whether resolutions have been passed or not.