asked the Minister for Finance if he will increase the abatement of £17 in the rates for those farmers with a valuation over £20 who have employees or relatives working on their land.

Any alteration in the employment allowance is a matter for consideration in relation to the budget and the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate at this stage to indicate what the budget may or may not contain.

Would the Minister agree that an abatement of £17 is absolutely useless to offer as an inducement to a man in this day and age.

If I were to express my thoughts on this matter it might be thought that I was anticipating the budget and that would be inappropriate at this stage.

Do I take it that we can expect an early budget?

We had one this morning.

That is a separate question.