asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons or companies to whom the State paid rent in 1971; in relation to the persons involved, if they are Irish citizens; and in relation to the companies involved, if their share capital, as to the majority thereof, is owned by Irish citizens.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Rents.
21.
I presume that the Deputy's question relates to commercial rents paid by the State in respect of office accommodation. The number of persons and companies to whom the State paid such rents in 1971 was 391. Information is not available as to the citizenship of the persons to whom rents were paid, but apart from payments made to some 12 Landlords of Embassy, et cetera, offices abroad, it can, I think, be taken that they are Irish citizens.
With regard to the rent payable to companies, it is not possible to say from the records available whether the majority of the share capital is owned by Irish citizens.
Can I take it from what the Minister says that 391 persons are dividing £600,000 between them in a year——
Persons and companies.
——persons and companies—and has there been a change in Government policy in regard to paying commercial rents in the sense that future Government offices will be provided by the Government rather than giving franchise to these people to provide them and charge these rates?
This matter is being examined very closely at the moment.