asked the Minister for Lands what is the value of lands at present held by Germans in this country.
46.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Held by Germans.
45.
asked the Minister for Lands the number of Germans who own holdings of land in this country.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together.
Statistics of agricultural holdings have not been compiled by reference to nationality of ownership and the required information is not officially recorded. In general I can inform the Deputy that for non-nationals as a whole, the Register kept by the Land Commission under the Finance Acts shows that for the four year period from 1st August, 1961, to 30th September, 1965, a total of 35,581 acres, including one open mountain acreage of 5,455 acres was purchased by or leased to non-nationals subject to payment of 25 per cent stamp duty in 384 transactions with an aggregate purchase money of £2,078,535. It is a matter of common knowledge that some of these properties have since been disposed of by the non-nationals to Irish interests.
In addition, 6,818 acres were acquired in 452 transactions with an aggregate purchase money of £3,279,894 for purposes of industry other than agriculture; and 8,922 acres were acquired for other purposes but were exempted from the higher rate of stamp duty under the relevant provisions of the Finance Acts in 187 transactions with an aggregate purchase money of £1,912,844.
Section 45 of the Land Act 1965 provides for direct control by the Land Commission over the purchase of rural land by non-qualified persons. Apart from transactions arising solely from mortgage interests or involving plots of five acres or less, the total acreage of non-urban land in respect of which the Land Commission have consented, pursuant to section 45 (2) (a) of the Act, to the vesting of interests in German purchasers amounts to 402 acres involving five properties.