asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has noted a recent statement by the director of An Foras Talúntais with regard to the use of scientific surveys of soil and land productivity which are being completed at present and which would be an effective and equitable basis for land valuation and pricing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Productivity Surveys.
16.
I have seen the statement to which the Deputy refers. I agree, of course, that existing land valuations are in many respects unsatisfactory for the purpose for which they are used and that modern scientific surveys constitute a good basis for evaluating the productivity and price of land. It is not, however, the Government's intention to undertake a general revaluation of land at the present time. Such a task would take several years to complete and would be fraught with difficulty.
Would the Minister accept that these surveys would be a fair means of defining the disadvantaged areas for the headage payment scheme? Would the Minister use such surveys for that purpose in future?
The survey has not been completed yet. It is a valuable survey but I cannot say at this stage what uses could be made of it because I do not know enough about it. However, I think it will be very useful.
Will the Minister not agree that it should be a good way of assessing headage payments for those areas?
It is the top 5" or 6" that matter, not the profile down for 6ft. from the point of view of income from grazing animals. It is a difficult matter and I should like more information on this subject.