asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the continuing rise in the rates throughout the country in spite of the increased central contributions to date, he will further examine local taxation relative to health charges to offset this escalating imposition on ratepayers.

I would refer the Deputy to Chapter 15 of the White Paper Local Government Reorganisation.

The Minister's reply might purport to give me some information, but it gives me absolutely none. The immediate concern of everyone, as the Minister is aware, is that the rates are escalating. Has he any plan for the immediate future to hold down rates?

I have already indicated to the House that I propose to publish a White Paper containing recommendations for improvements in the rating system generally.

Publishing a White Paper will not keep down the rates. What every ratepayer wants to know is what immediate plans the Department of Local Government have —I directed the question to the Department of Health but they apparently pushed it on to Local Government—to control the escalating rates? It is a perfectly simple question and I should like the Minister to give me a simple answer.

The Deputy is aware that in this present year a special subvention has been made to help to reduce the health charges in the rates structure, amounting in all to a sum of about £5½million.

In the question I referred to the fact that what has already been allowed in order to reduce the rates is of no value whatsoever. I am asking the Minister if he has any other suggestions to make. The ratepayers are quite interested in this matter.

Would the Minister not now realise that the Fine Gael policy to provide a comprehensive health service based on insurance is the only answer to the yearly increase in the health charge on rates?

No, I do not necessarily accept that suggestion.

I am not concerned with whether the Minister necessarily accepts it or not. Would he examine it?

(Cavan): Would the Minister agree that the present system is unworkable with any degree of equity or justice?

I have already stated, and the Government have stated on a number of occasions, that they accept that the present system is in need of overhaul.

(Cavan): Would they do something tangible about it? This has been going on for years.

We intend to do that as soon as possible.

Would the Minister say, with regard to the White Paper where reference is made to a separate White Paper on the cost structure of local government, what progress has been made with that investigation and what action will be taken this year on it?

All of these matters will be covered in the White Paper which I propose to publish.

That is not good enough.

I am afraid the Deputy will just have to wait until we finalise the contents of the White Paper.

We have watched the mountain in labour and have seen the mouse coming out.

It is naive of the Deputy to expect me to give information in advance of the final decision on this document.

Why not? This is Dáil Éireann.

The Deputy is naive if he thinks that can be done.

Question No. 21.

When will the White Paper be published?

Question No. 21.