asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that some landlords who have rented dwelling houses to tenants, are not giving the full rates relief they are entitled to and, if so, if he can have the matter regularised.

I am not so aware. It was the Government's intention when domestic rates were abolished that the benefits should be passed on by landlords to their tenants. Full effect was given to this in the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1978. The Act also contained a provision enabling a tenant, if the landlord defaulted, to enforce his rights in this respect as a simple contract debt through the courts. While I have no function in individual cases, when the Act was passed I arranged for publicity both directly and through the local authorities to bring to the notice of tenants their rights under the 1978 Act.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Surely the Minister is aware that the proposal to relieve tenants from rates simply was not workable? Is the Minister not aware that it is generally accepted throughout the country that tenants did not get the benefit of the rates relief because it was not possible to secure it from the landlords?

There is no evidence in my Department that this has been abused.

The Minister must be living on the moon.

I am not living on the moon.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister accept that this whole thing was unworkable and the tenants simply threw up their hands in hopelessness? The whole thing was a gimmick and a fraud.

Provision was made in the Act for going to the court.