asked the Minister for the Environment the amounts collected in 1983 and 1984 in each local authority area in respect of service charges as introduced under the 1983 legislation.

The collection figures for 1984 are not yet available in my Department. The most up to date information on the amounts collected in 1983 from new charges, in so far as they can be separately identified in the returns submitted by local authorities, are contained in the following tabular statement for circulation in the Official Report.

Amounts collected from new charges to 31 December, 1983.

Notes:

(1) The figures are from quarterly returns submitted by local authorities.

(2) The figures provided do not include fees under the Local Government (Planning and Development) (Fees and Amendment) Regulations, 1983.

Can the Minister indicate from the tabular statement the total amount collected in 1983 and also the cost of collecting the money?

I cannot give that figure. It was not requested but I can give the amounts for each local authority area, the county boroughs and urban council areas. As I said in my reply, charges new and old may be involved in the amounts given and therefore I am not in a position to identify what would be a new charge and what could be a charge resulting from an imposition at an earlier stage.

If the Minister does not have the exact figures does he have available even a percentage ratio of the cost of collecting the money?

I do not have that information; it was not requested in the question.

The Minister does not want to give it out. He has it in the Department.