asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the injustice of having hand-ball alleys and youth centres liable to rates; if he will exempt both from such liability; if he will give the same concessions as were given to community halls; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Under the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Bill, 1977 the relief of rates promised by the Government for community halls will apply to any hall or similar building (not having permanent bar facilities) which is not mainly used for profit or gain but for purposes which both involve participation by the inhabitants of a locality generally and are recreational or otherwise of a social nature. The fact that a premises is normally used by persons of a particular age group, for example by young people or old people only, will not prevent its getting relief of rates as a community hall.

Premises such as hand-ball alleys do not come within the scope of the rating reliefs and there is no proposal to extend the reliefs to them.