asked the Minister for the Environment if he is considering any reforms of the rating system.

I have no specific plans at the moment to reform the rating system. However, I am having a review of the whole system of local authority financing carried out in my Department.

Would the Minister indicate when this review will be completed and what line it is taking at the moment?

The review is proceeding at all possible speed in my Department and, as I outlined to the House when we were discussing the postponement of local elections, it is hoped to have the review completed and have the local elections in June next year.