asked the Minister for Local Government the number and percentage of farmers (a) totally derated and (b) partially derated as far as agricultural land is concerned.

134.

asked the Minister for Local Government the percentage of rates from agricultural land.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.

Out of a total of 418,551 rated holdings of agricultural land 319,748 or 76 per cent are, in effect, totally de-rated; the remaining 98,803 holdings or 24 per cent of the total qualify for partial remission of rates.

Net rates on agricultural land in the current financial year amount to an estimated 19 per cent of the total rates revenue of local authorities.

135.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider treating agricultural urban land in the same way as non-urban agricultural land for rating purposes.

The introduction of legislation extending the agricultural grant allowances to land holdings in urban areas is not contemplated.

136.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state how the agricultural grant has varied over the past decade, giving the annual figures.

137.

asked the Minister for Local Government the total net rates payable on agricultural land annually over the past decade.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together and as the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

138.

asked the Minister for Local Government the net rates payable on agricultural land according to valuations of £20, £25, £30, £40, £60, £80, £100, £150, £200, for the years 1969-70 and 1970-71.

Agricultural land holdings with valuations not exceeding £20 are totally de-rated. While the net rates payable on higher land valuations depend on the rate in the pound levied in each county the effect of the primary and supplementary allowances financed from the agricultural grant is to reduce the valuation on which rates are assessed below the rateable valuation. The effect of these reductions is set out in the following statement which I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

NOTE: Net rates payable are further reduced by the employment allowance where appropriate.