andMr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Finance whether the Commissioner of Valuation or any other authority may declare a particular place as being no longer valued for rating purposes on account of its being a museum or housing articles of historical, cultural or artistic merit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rateable Valuations.
51.
I would refer the Deputies to the provisions of section 2 of the Valuation (Ireland) Amendment Act. 1854, which laid down that in making out the revised valuation lists each year the commissioner of valuation shall distinguish all hereditaments and tenements, or portions of the same, of a public nature, or used for charitable purposes, or for the purposes of science, literature and the fine arts as specified in the Scientific Societies Act, 1843; all properties so distinguished shall, so long as they shall continue to be of a public nature and occupied for the public service or used for the purposes indicated, be exempt from all rates assessment on the occupiers. Under the Scientific Societies Act, 1843, societies instituted for the purposes of science, literature and the fine arts exclusively, if supported by annual voluntary contributions and making no dividend or other material benefit to members, are exempted from rates on obtaining the relevant certificate from the registrar of friendly societies.
Is there any change anticipated in that?
I regret I have not got the information the Deputy seeks.
It is outside the Minister's province.
I imagine that if there were any such intention it would be mentioned.