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.