asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the number of farmers who, having received housing or reconstruction grants or grants for the improvement of farm buildings, had their farm houses and outoffices revalued for rating purposes since 1st March, 1948, and (b) the average increase in the valuation of such houses and buildings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Valuation of Farm Buildings.
I regret I cannot supply the information asked for by the Deputy as its extraction would involve an undue expenditure of time and labour and dislocation of the normal statutory work of the Valuation Office.
I want to point out that the Minister for Agriculture——
Is this a question or a statement?
A question. I want to point out that the Minister for Agriculture stated in this House that there was not a scintilla of truth in the statement that those impositions were being made and that the Minister for Justice agreed with me that it should be stopped.
That is not a question.
That is a fine speech.
It has nothing to do with my reply.
The Minister for Agriculture would not tell the truth.
asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that the valuations of reconstructed dwelling-houses and other buildings, including farm buildings, are being increased to an excessive extent and, if so, whether he will introduce proposals for legislation to remedy the matter.
I am not aware that the position as regards valuations of reconstructed premises is as stated by the Deputy and I am not prepared to introduce proposals for legislation as suggested by him.
Is the Minister aware that when a house is reconstructed the Valuation Office is notified and they revalue the premises as a whole, including the reconstructed portion, and that the valuation subsequent to that revision is raised?
300 per cent.
The Deputy will understand that the initiative with regard to valuation does not lie with the Commissioner of Valuation. It lies with the rating authority.
At whose instigation?
Not at the Minister's instigation. There is no truth in that.
The Minister will surely agree that, as alleged just now, valuations have gone up by 300 per cent.
I do not agree with that, but I want to emphasise that the initiative does not lie with the Commissioner of Valuation. It lies with the rating authority. That has been the law since 1852.
Question No. 28.
The Minister must agree with——
Deputy Maguire should understand——
Might I add, with the permission of the Chair, to what I have said, that anybody who is dissatisfied has a right first of all to appeal to the commissioner and thereafter to the courts?
I have had experience of it.
Is the Minister further aware that the basis of valuation varies very much? Young officials are sometimes sent down from the Valuation Office and return a certain valuation which is nullified by further visits from other officials, thereby proving that the basis for their assessment is very varied?
The rate collector starts the whole business. The rating authority takes it up.
In a number of cases the rate collector has denied it.
If the Deputy will send me letters denying that this is a fact, I will have those rate collectors publicly exposed.