asked the Minister for Local Government how many farmers will be free from paying rates under the recent scheme for farmers with valuations of up to £20, giving the percentage of such farmers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rates Exemption.
21.
317,137 holdings, representing 76 per cent of the total number of rates holdings of agricultural land in county health districts, are relieved of the total amount of the general rate on land by the allowances granted under the Rates on Agricultural Land (Relief) Acts.
Is it not true that the average rate on those holdings was £3 14s 0d and that the increase in the cost of the loaf, since this time 12 months, has wiped that out on the double?
I do not know what the average was.
That was the figure I was given 12 months ago. If Fine Gael had been in office, the loaf would not have gone up in price by 1/-, as it has under this Fianna Fáil Government.
At the very least, Fine Gael intend to wipe out many thousands of holdings. According to Deputy Cosgrave, that is only part of them.
Do not misquote Deputy Cosgrave. The Minister should read his speech. Fianna Fáil have enough excitement to deal with at the moment without entering into a fight with Deputy Cosgrave.
Let Fine Gael try to explain it away in County Limerick.
The position now is that nobody believes the Minister.
So-called Ministers.
Low standards in high places.