Mr. Pat McCormack:

I will be very brief because the question was targeted to our view on capital gains tax. Mrs. Doyle touched on it. It only becomes an issue if someone is selling the property. My understanding is that the spirit of the scheme is to create a home for a member of the family, a member of the community or someone who comes to work in the community. We alluded to the timeframe and cost earlier. It would be far more prudent if there was some initiative under capital allowances for the people doing up the houses to get relief in the perhaps two years during which they were doing up the house. Capital gains tax is really only an issue for those selling a house. In many cases, on a farm the house will not be sold because people want an idea of who will be in it in the future and their view of agriculture. On any country road this evening tractors will be moving at a late hour and at an early hour again tomorrow morning. That will go on for the next three weeks with the silage harvest. Therefore, people want agriculture friendly citizens in the rural area. To reiterate, capital allowances would be a far more prudent way of giving people an incentive and support while they build their homes in their communities.