asked the Minister for the Environment (a) the total number of ratepayers in County Galway and the total amount of rates they pay; (b) the number of farmers that pay rates in County Galway; (c) the number of farmers that do not pay rates; and (d) the number of business people that pay rates.
Written Answers. - County Galway Ratepayers.
110.
Information in the precise form requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department. The following information has, however, been compiled by my Department from various returns submitted by the Galway County Council.
Rates amounting to about £1.4 million have been levied in the county health district of Galway this year on the 8,871 ratepayers who occupy business and industrial premises, rateable land holdings and certain other hereditaments. About £0.8 million of this sum is payable in respect of 5,400 land holdings in the county; the remaining 29,000 land holdings are fully relieved of rates by the agricultural grant. Most of the remaining £0.6 million is levied on business premises.
I should mention that nearly £5 million is being paid to Galway County Council in 1978 in relief of rates on land and on domestic and certain other property.