asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that a number of farms are subject to an antiquated impost known as tithe rents and if he will take steps to have this tax abolished.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tithe Rents.
The developments which have led to the collection of tithe rent charges in their present form are described in a very explicit statement which was made in reply to a question on the 7th December, 1937, and which the Deputy can find in the Dáil Report for that date. Notwithstanding the many explanations made in this matter the popular misconception still seems to exist that these charges benefit the funds of a Church. That is not so and I would like to emphasise that the charges have no religious significance whatever, are similar to State revenue, and are devoted to a number of national purposes such as intermediate education, the National University, Department of Agriculture, etc. Redemptions in Land Act proceedings or by way of cash payments made by the occupiers of lands have reduced the number of holdings liable to those charges to 4,500 and the present annual rental to approximately £8,000.
Why not change the title?