asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that exorbitant prices are charged for land required by local authorities for the purpose of development, including building schemes; whether the payment of excessive prices for land for building purposes has the effect of adding substantially to the rents charged for workingclass houses, and whether it is his intention, in view of the provisions of Section 72 of the Town and Regional Planning Act, 1934, to take steps to prevent the exploitation of the local authorities and the citizens generally by persons demanding unreasonable prices for land required as described.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Building Land.
In some areas the price paid for lands acquired for public purposes, particularly for housing, appears to have been high, but in these cases the compensation paid was arranged by agreement between the local bodies and the parties interested. Every effort is made to secure lands at the most reasonable prices possible and where proposals to acquire land at high cost by agreement are put before the Department it is the practice to recommend compulsory acquisition where the purchase price is fixed by an official arbitrator.
The cost of land for urban housing schemes is usually a small factor in the all-in cost of a scheme and fluctuations in this factor are not reflected to any extent in the rents charged to tenants.
As regards the concluding part of the question, the provisions of Section 72 of the Town and Regional Planning Act, 1934, would only apply where the responsible planning authority has made a planning scheme.
In connection with the Minister's statement that where proposals to acquire land at high cost by agreement are put before the Department it is the practice to recommend compulsory acquisition, where the purchase price is considered exorbitant, was such a recommendation made in the case of an agreement, arrived at as between the Roscommon Board of Health and an individual who sold his land to them at £115 per statute acre.
I was answering as regards land for houses.
The Minister was dealing with land acquired for public health purposes and said that where proposals to acquire land at high cost by agreement are put before the Department it was the practice to recommend compulsory acquisition?
I was dealing with houses.
Was the purchase of land at £115 per acre by the Roscommon Board of Health brought to his attention?
If the Deputy puts down a question I shall answer it.
I did put down two questions in regard to that position.
Did the Deputy not get an answer?
I did.
Would the Minister consent to make inquiry as to the price proposed to be paid by the City Manager in Cork for land for a housing scheme which I am told runs into the neighbourhood of £400 per acre? If these facts are so would not the Minister consider the price excessive and recommend the City Manager not to proceed under such circumstances?
£400 per acre in Cork might not be considered an excessive figure. Some time ago £3,000 per acre was given in the City of Dublin.
Mr. Murphy
Some members of the City Council think the figure of £400 very excessive.
There is always difference of opinion in these matters.