asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the reason for the delay in approving a revision of by-laws authorising Dublin Corporation to make increased charges in its municipal abattoir, which was sent to his Department for approval on 11th December, 1975; and if he will now issue the necessary approval to avoid further losses on the operation of the abattoir.
Written Answers. - Dublin Abattoir.
86.
Dublin Corporation obtained my approval as recently as in April, 1975, for an increase of about 250 per cent in the scale of charges at the municipal abattoir. Notwithstanding this substantial increase, the corporation are now seeking a further increase of over 100 per cent on the present charges which would bring them to over seven times what they were this time last year. The new charges would be greatly in excess of those applicable in any other part of the country. I find it most difficult to justify even the present charges, not to speak of increasing them. Accordingly, I am not prepared to agree to the increase sought and my Department are writing to the corporation to that effect.