asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that, since steps have been taken to provide a water supply for Skerries, the ground landlord in that particular district has been demanding prices for building plots over 130 per cent. greater than the prices he was willing to accept before the public spirit of the ratepayers in the area of charge made the provision of the water supply possible; whether this gentleman, who believes his property to have appreciated in value by reason of the fact that a water supply is being provided for the town, pays, or will be called upon to pay in respect of water rate, very much less than the large body of ratepayers in the town and in the surrounding rural district; and whether, in view of this, the Minister will introduce legislation to amend the existing rating law, so as to secure to the community as a whole the full benefit of any increment in the value of land, in all cases where such increment is directly and wholly due to works of development and improvement undertaken at the public expense.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - BUILDING PLOTS IN SKERRIES.
I have no information as regards parts one and two of the question. As regards the third part, it is not proposed to introduce legislation on the matter.
Do I understand from the Minister that it is the policy of the Government to allow values of this kind, created by the expenditure of public money, to be handed over to private ownership?
I think the Deputy will have to put down another question on that.