asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make inquiries to ascertain what urban authorities are unable to operate the scheme for waiving rates in respect of persons who are unable to pay rates without undue hardship; if he will give a list of such authorities; and if he will provide financial aid to such authorities to enable them to operate the scheme so that the persons suffering hardship may secure relief.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rates Waiver Scheme.
81.
There is no obligation on a local authority to notify my Department of a decision regarding the adoption of a rates waiver scheme but, in the case of any local authority which decides to adopt such a scheme, the decision would come to my Department's notice because the scheme would have to be submitted for approval. So far, a total of 35 local authorities, including 24 urban authorities, have submitted schemes for approval. Two local authorities—Carlow County Council and Bundoran Urban District Council—have notified my Department of their decisions not to adopt schemes in respect of the current year.
No information is so far available in relation to the remaining 50 local authorities. Inquiries from those authorities would be premature at this stage since it is likely that several of them have not yet reached a decision. Inquiries will, however, be made at a later stage in relation to such local authorities as have not then sought sanction to schemes or otherwise indicated their decisions in regard to the adoption of schemes.
As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 40 of the 25th June, 1970, Bundoran Urban District Council took the view that a scheme is unnecessary in Bundoran. The second and third parts of the question do not arise at present but, in any event, there are no funds available to me to enable me to provide financial aid to authorities operating those schemes.