andMr. T. O'Donnell asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that the rents to tenants who are allocated land by his Department are too high, resulting in some allottees of land having to refuse allocation; and if he will examine the Land Acts so that the position may be rectified by further subsidisation of rent if necessary.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rents of Land Commission Tenants.
35.
I am not so aware. In the year ended 31st March 1966, the total number of allotments refused because the annuity was considered too high was 23 out of a total of over 2,600.
Could the Minister indicate what the average charge per acre is in allotments outside the Gaeltacht area since the passing of the last Land Act?
Of course I could not because that must depend on the cost of land, which varies from holding to holding.
Would the Minister not agree that the charge on land has increased considerably since the last Land Act?
Fifty per cent— 100 per cent.
Not at all. It depends on where the lands are. As far as the charge on land is concerned, I have representations every day from people asking that the Land Commission buy land and they are quite happy to pay the full annuity as to the cost so long as it is acquired.
That is a new idea with the Minister.
Would the Minister answer my supplementary question? Would he not agree that the charge on lands has increased considerably since the passing of the Land Act?
The short answer is that I would not agree.
It has increased by 100 per cent to local people and the Minister cannot deny that.
Can rents in any case go as high as £10 an acre?
I doubt it. I do not remember any case in which rents went to that figure.
I can give evidence of that to the Minister.