asked the Minister for the Environment if he has yet issued detailed instructions to all local authorities regarding the abolition of rates on private dwellings; and if not when he intends to do so.

29.

(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment if he has instructed local authorities not to hold estimate meetings or to strike a rate for 1978; if so, the object of the prohibition; when it will be lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together.

A circular from my Department of 17th August, 1977, requested rating authorities to defer consideration of their estimates for 1978 until dates to be notified by me. As soon as these dates are notified, adoption of estimates of expenses by rating authorities and determination by them of rates in the pound will proceed in accordance with the appropriate statutory requirements. The reason for deferring preparation of rating authority estimates for 1978 was to enable proper consideration to be given to the measures, including legislative changes, needed to give effect to the abolition of rates on domestic premises and certain other categories of property and also, in the context of overall budgetary arrangements, to the provision required to compensate rating authorities for the abolished rates. When this consideration has been completed, I will notify rating authorities of the periods for preparation of their estimates of expenses and give them detailed instructions in relation to the rating reliefs. Pending this, it may be appropriate to issue further interim advice to rating authorities.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister saying that it is proposed to ask the local authorities to submit their estimates to his Department for consideration?

No.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister propose to ask each local authority for their proposals for the year 1978 in regard to estimates?

No. It is a matter of postponing their final estimates meetings until the budgetary situation has been clarified.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does that mean that they will be asked to postpone their estimates meetings until the Minister tells them how much money he intends to allocate to them?

In order to permit them to have proper estimates meetings they would need some indication of the amount of money available.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Department of the Environment going to assume the role of the Department of Finance towards other governmental departments?

That is not so. It is only fair that local authorities should have some idea of the amount of money that is likely to be available for them.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not a fact that the last remaining function of the county councils is being taken from them— the power to strike a rate?

That is not correct. County councils will continue to strike rates. I would remind the Deputy that the Exchequer will be responsible for 60 per cent of the rate and that local authorities will be responsible for 40 per cent.

Order. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.

We must have some order.