asked the Minister for Local Government what proposals he has to deal with rising rates.
37.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rates Relief.
36.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that thousands of ratepayers are finding it impossible to pay the present high rates demanded; and if he will state, in view of the Taoiseach's statement of 21st March, 1965, at Ballyshannon, County Donegal, what relief he has in mind for rural and urban ratepayers.
38.
asked the Minister for Local Government the total amount of rates collected in 1932, 1956, 1965 and 1970; and if it is the Government's intention to stabilise rates.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 37 and 38 together.
The total amounts of rates collected in 1932, 1956 and 1965 are set out in the Returns of Local Taxation for those years. The amount collected in the financial year ended 31st March, 1970, was £40.552 million.
The system of local finance and taxation has been the subject of investigation by an interdepartmental committee which has to date furnished three interim reports. While the more long-term recommendations made by the committee are being studied, effect has already been given to some of the recommendations in the Local Government (Rates) Act, 1970. That Act conferred a right on certain classes of ratepayers to spread their rate payments over the greater part of the year, and enabled local authorities to waive the rates liability of persons for whom payment would involve hardship. Over 6,000 people benefited from the rates waiver schemes last year. The Government has, of course, continued its policy of protecting ratepayers from the full effect of increases in local rates by means of State grants which, this year, total £77 million.
Is the Minister aware that Fianna Fáil came into power because of a promise to derate at a time when the average rate was about 5s in the £? Further, is he aware that the Taoiseach dangled the carrot before the people, particularly before the people of Donegal, that they were about to do something about the rates situation? The rates in Donegal, for example, have gone up from £4 to £6 since that promise was made, while the Minister was standing idly by.
The Deputy should bear in mind that the percentage of local authority revenue expenditure met from rates in 1938-39 was 52.34 per cent compared with 32.87 per cent in 1968-69.
Fianna Fáil promised complete derating.
This fall in the proportion of local expenditure me by rates has been due primarily to the increases in State grants in the same period from 39.23 per cent to 50.56 per cent.
Question No. 39.
Why are you holding out this carrot to the people?
We have taken many steps to reduce the burden of rates over the years, particularly in the case of small farmers.
Ask the small shopkeepers and small business people and they will tell you what you have done.