asked the Minister for Finance whether he will state the amount of revenue collected by way of income-tax on ground rents during each of the financial years 1945-46, 1946-47, 1947-48.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Income-Tax on Ground Rents.
I regret that the information for which the Deputy asks is not available.
Is the Minister aware that this information has been sought on many occasions? Is there a particular difficulty with regard to obtaining it?
There is. The income-tax assessed on ground rents is not assessed directly on the recipient of the rents. There are ways of getting some of the information that the Deputy wants, but I am advised that the estimates would be very rough and very unreliable. If the Deputy raises the matter privately, I would discuss the difficulty with him.
I would be satisfied if I could get the information, or as near to it as possible, in the near future.
Without going to the extent of diverting a large amount of staff, who could be better employed, and going to a great deal of expense, it would not amount to more than a guess. If the Deputy would like that, even unofficially, it will be considered.