asked the Minister for Finance the number of non-nationals who have purchased land or premises in the State for each of the years ended 5th April, 1958, 1959 and 1960.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Property Purchases by Non-Nationals.
14.
The only records available to me of purchases of property by non-nationals are those kept in connection with the higher rate of stamp duty imposed in 1947 on certain conveyances and transfers to them. This higher rate of duty did not at any time apply to purchases by non-national persons or companies who had been resident in the State for three years before the 15th October, 1947. On the passing of the Finance Act, 1956, the higher rate ceased to apply to purchases by non-nationals of property for private residential purposes, provided the property did not include land exceeding five acres in extent. It also ceased to apply where the property was being acquired by the non-national exclusively for the purpose of an industry other than agriculture.
Records have been kept of all cases in which the higher rate of stamp duty was paid and for the three years for which the Deputy has asked for information the numbers of transactions were as follows:—10 for the year ended 5th April, 1958, 7 for the year ended 5th April, 1959 and 8 for the year ended 5th April, 1960. For the reasons I have mentioned, however, these figures must not be taken as representing all purchases by non-nationals during the periods in question.