asked the Minister for Finance the estimated yield in a full year from the residential property tax on the basis of: (a) an increase in the charge on relevant property value from 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent, (b) a reduction in the market value exemption limit from £74,351 to £50,000, (c) a reduction in the exemption income limit from £25,795 to £20,000 and (d) the halving of marginal relief from £5,000 to £2,500.

I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that precise data are not available on the distribution of residential properties by value, or on the relationship between property values and household income. Subject to these important qualifications, it is estimated that the yield from residential property tax, on the basis of the Deputy's proposals, would be of the order of £13.5 million.