§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether tenants of houses in towns in Ireland under £4 valuation are entitled to deduct from their rents the amount of the rates collected by county councils; whether he is aware that landlords are refusing to allow this to be done; and will he insert a clause in the coming Local Government Act Amendment Bill to definitely settle the question.
§ MR. ATKINSONIt is impossible to answer this question in its present 197 general form; the County Council collect several rates. The hon. Member will find in the 54th Section of the Local Government Act full directions as to when, and for what amounts, deductions are to be made. I am not aware that landlords are refusing to allow proper deductions to be made, but if they are the tenant has a legal remedy. The matter is clearly dealt with by the 54th Section of the Act, and no further legislation is necessary on the subject.