asked the Minister for Lands how long the Land Commission have held the Tobin estate, Kilnacarriga, Newcastle, Clonmel, County Tipperary; how many acres are concerned; and when it is intended to divide it.
27.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary Estate.
26.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware of the amount of money being asked per acre for the Tobin estate, Kilnacarriga, Newcastle, Clonmel, County Tipperary; and how he reconciles this amount with the price received for letting of the same lands.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together.
Pending clearance of title by the owner, the Land Commission took possession of this 64 acre property, on a provisional letting, in August, 1966. Plans for division have now been approved and I understand that discussions on the matter are in progress between the Land Commission and the selected allottees. In fact, I am informed that the land is being offered at a price which does not cover its cost to the Land Commission.
The determination of the price at which land shall be allotted is a matter reserved to the commissioners.
Resale price is normally based on the amount paid for the land and the cost of any necessary improvements. The rents received for lettings have no bearing on the matter. In any case, I understand that the rents received by the Land Commission in this case did not represent the normal letting value of the lands.
The Deputy will appreciate that it is necessary, in the general interest, to keep capital losses on resale of land down to a minimum and to recover improvement costs as far as is reasonably practicable.