asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state, for the last year for which the figures are available, in respect of holdings of agricultural land to which the Rates of Agricultural Land (Relief) Act, 1939 (No. 23 of 1939) was applicable: (1) the number of such holdings under £20 valuation and the sum of the valuations of these holdings, and (2) the number of such holdings of £20 valuation and over and the sum of the valuations of these holdings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Valuations of Holdings.
The valuation of agricultural land in the financial year ended 31st March, 1946, in respect of which relief from rates was given from the agricultural grant was £6,991,919. Of this, the valuation of holdings not exceeding £20 in valuation was £2,007,396, and the valuation of the first £20 of holdings of higher valuations than £20 was £1,803,300.
Where a person is rated in respect of two or more holdings of agricultural land all the holdings in his occupation in a county are for the purposes of the agricultural grant deemed to form a single tenement of land. The total number of tenements of agricultural land exceeding £20 valuation whether composed of one holding or of several holdings which are deemed to form a single tenement, is 90,165. Figures are not available showing the number of separate holdings under £20 which get relief from the grant.