asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether it is his intention to introduce proposals for legislation for the redemption of ground rents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ground Rents.
The answer is in the negative.
Is the Minister aware that ground rents at the rate of 8/-per foot are being charged in the City of Cork, and, I presume, in other places, in respect of land which a few years ago was agricultural land? Is he also aware that a number of leases have expired within the past few years and that ground rents have been increased by 50 per cent., which ground rents are payable to people of whose existence those paying the rents are doubtful?
These are separate questions.
What is the difficulty in dealing with a matter of this kind? Why should we be fighting shy of it?
Mr. Boland
This matter was debated at length on a motion in 1946. It cannot be dealt with satisfactorily by question and answer here. It was fully debated on that occasion and if the Deputy will look up the debate in February, 1946, he will find all the answers to his queries there.
That is six years ago.
Mr. Boland
The Deputy will find all the answers there, I think.
That is not an answer to my question. Why are we afraid to tackle the problem? These ground rents make no contribution whatever to local authority funds.
The Minister will admit that the position has altered fairly radically since 1946 and that a great many new ground rents have been created and are in process of being created all the time. Would the Minister not consider that Deputy Hickey has made a strong case on this point?
Mr. Boland
I was about to say that there was an alteration in that there was a change of Government in the meantime and that Government did nothing about it. The commission investigating the whole question of landlord and tenant has not been asked to make any recommendation about charges. They have been asked only to report with regard to the renewal of expiring leases.
All the Governments have been just as careful about touching this matter as the present Government. I want to know the reason.
Mr. Boland
Read the debate and you will find the whole thing there.