asked the Minister for Finance the number of acres assessed on an adjusted acre basis in each county in Ireland; and the outcome of each assessment.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a tabular statement showing for each local authority area the statute acreage and adjusted acreage of all holdings included in the classification lists issued by the farm tax commissioner in September 1986. No classification lists have been issued since that date. As the classification lists giving details of individual assessments were put on public display by the local authorities I do not think it necessary to give details of the outcome of each assessment.

Summary of September 1986 Classification List

May I ask the Minister for Finance if, given the valuable work that has been done by the tax assessment office, he does not consider that this work should continue? When we consider that the last overall valuation was prepared in the first half of the 19th century, will the Minister, taking into account that he was a former Minister for Agriculture, not accept that this work should continue in the interests of the economy irrespective of whether one is in favour or against a land tax? Will the Minister not accept, as a matter of proper accounting and assessing the resources available to us within the State, that this work should be allowed to continue?

As the Deputy is well aware, the Government have already decided to discontinue this work and that is the position.

May I ask the Minister what has happened to date to the records and files accumulated by the land assessment office in the last number of years? If nothing has happened to them, can I ask the Minister for an assurance that those records be retained because they are very valuable?

This is essentially a statistical question in which there appears to be a tabular statement. It would be more appropriate for Deputies to await circulation of the tabular statement and they can then deal effectively with the matter. Deputy Michael Noonan.

The Minister was offering to answer my question.

The Chair is entitled to express his view in these matters and he has done so.

With respect, I have asked a very reasonable question and the Minister for Finance was about to answer the question. I will not accept that the Chair is entitled to express his views to stop me from exercising my rights in this House.

The Chair expressed the view that this is a statistical question and it is usual for Deputies to await the submission of a tabular statement so as to be in a position to ask further questions. The Deputy has asked his supplementary question.

I am reasonably aware of what is provided in a tabular statement. I can anticipate in a reasonable manner that the information I have asked will not be provided in the tabular statement. The Minister seems to be quite willing to answer me. It is very important to ascertian what will happen to these records. I believe I am entitled to ask that question.

The Deputy has put a number of supplementary questions.

This is my second supplementary question.

Has he another question to put?

I am waiting for a reply to that one.

I understand your ruling, a Cheann Comhairle, in relation to tabular statements. One question had been allowed and I am glad of the opportunity of answering the second one because there has been much speculation in the media, and wrongly so, about what would happen to these records. They will be handed over to the control of the Valuation Office for permanent storage. There is absolutely no question that any part of them will be destroyed.

(Limerick East): Will the Minister inform the House how the staff of the land valuation office have been deployed?

That is a separate question and I have not got the full details but, as the Deputy knows, many of the staff have already been transferred to various parts of the public service and some have been laid off.

(Limerick East): Will the Minister supply that information to me?

I will, definitely. It was the subject of a question some time ago and I gave the details then but I have no hesitation in giving them to the Deputy again.

Will the Minister indicate to the House the overall assessment of acres that has taken place? Will he also indicate how far down the scale the assessment had progressed? Had it reached 100 acres, 150 acres or what level had been reached?

I do not have the percentages but I will give the figures which are shown at the end of the tabular statement. The gross acreage assessed was 840,102 acres and the adjusted acreage was 535,693 acres.

Arising from the Minister's reply on the storage of material, will such records be available to Deputies should they wish to have access to some information or will they be available to those carrying out research on agriculture should they make application?

Much of the records relate to individual holdings and, as such, would be in the same category as individual tax records which would not be open to public inspection.

Might I ask——

I cannot dwell all day on this question. Deputy Kennedy, a brief question, please. I have dwelt overlong on question No. 3 which, I repeat, is essentially a statistical question involving a tabular statement.

Did I hear the Minister correctly in saying that the assessments would continue?

No, they will be discontinued.