asked the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to carry on with the procedure of revaluing domestic dwellings; and, if so, the plans he has in this regard.

It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the annual revision of the valuation list. The practice of valuing domestic dwellings has been under review in the light of the Government's commitment to abolish domestic rates.

I am not in a position at this stage to give a definitive answer to the question but it would seem that satisfactory arrangements for periodic reviews of the total of house valuations in each rating authority area will be necessary.

If the Deputy will repeat his question in a month's time I should be in a position to give a definitive answer.

Could the Minister elaborate on the reasons he believes revaluation to be desirable and necessary?

That is a separate question.

Could the Minister tell me when he will be in a position to say whether or not he will be carrying it out?

I hope to be in a position in a month's time if the Deputy will repeat his question then?

(Cavan-Monaghan): In view of the abolition of rates could the Minister tell us what is the object of continuing the revision of valuations?

That is a separate question.

(Cavan-Monaghan): No, I do not think so, sir.

I am ruling that it is.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I bow to the Chair's ruling but——

I would remind Deputies that supplementaries should be asked with a view to elucidation of the information sought in the original question. The Deputy should be aware of that.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Might I make this submission to the Chair—the question was: To ask the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to carry on with the procedure of revaluing domestic dwellings... I am asking why. Surely that is a direct follow-up to the question; it is as logical as day following night?

I am ruling that it is not.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Well, I admire the Chair's courage. This might also be ruled out of order but might I ask the Minister, through the House, if he, as a member of the Government, is aware that a register of houses is being compiled because the Minister for Economic Planning and Development is on record as having said that such a register is being compiled——

That is a matter for a separate Minister.

(Cavan-Monaghan): ——and the Minister for the Environment is on record as saying that no such register is being compiled?

I think the Deputy misquoted me. I am on record as not ruling out such a possibility.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Well, if those two Ministers cannot decide on it who better to sort it out than the Tánaiste.

That is a separate statement.

I must say I do not like the device of getting over the purport of the original question by asking questions which are not remotely associated; it is not in the interests of good order.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Since that is a reflection on me, sir, I would respectfully say that I agree with the Chair's ruling in reply to my first supplementary question, and I leave it to the House.

May I say that I had drawn attention to the fact that it was possible it would be necessary to have periodic reviews of the total of house valuations in a particular area——

(Cavan-Monaghan): Why, if the Chair allows the Minister?

I was about to say that I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that in certain rating areas——

It is the Minister's choice.

(Cavan-Monaghan): One way traffic; what is right over there is wrong here.

In certain rating areas there will be a substantial increase in the number of new buildings, new houses and so on. If we did not have machinery whereby that could be taken into account then such a rating area would lose out in so far as the Government would be paying the proportion of the rates attributable to domestic dwellings. That is the major reason for this being necessary.