asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing in the Saorstat as regards payment of arrears of Land Commission Annuities, Interest in lieu of Rent; that most of the forced sales to realise amounts due under these heads have proved abortive, and whether, in the circumstances, and in view of the existing depression he will consider the question of adding the arrears to the purchase price, and thus avoid the deadlock and evictions which must necessarily arise if the present policy is pursued.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ARREARS OF LAND COMMISSION ANNUITIES.
In the opinion of the Land Commissioners the suggestion made by the Deputy, that arrears of Land Purchase Annuities and of Interest in lieu of Rent be added to the purchase moneys of tenants' holdings, is not a practical proposition. The arrears of Land Purchase Annuities outsanding at 27th October last amounted to £421,349, and if the proposal were entertained, the required advances could not be made under any of the existing Land Purchase Acts. Special legislation would be required either (1) to make the advances in 4½ per cent. Land Bonds, which would have to be converted into cash to liquidate the arrears or (2) to enable the amount required to be provided from the Exchequer by means of a Vote of the Dáil.
It is assumed that the Deputy includes in "Interest in lieu of Rent" not only the Interest in lieu of Rent payable under the agreements entered into by tenants with their landlords under the Acts 1903-9, pending the making of the advances, but also Payment in lieu of Rent under the Act of 1923.
As regards Interest in lieu of Rent the Land Commission is under a statutory obligation to collect it and to pay it as collected to the landlords. The agreements under which it is payable are pending Purchase Agreements within the meaning of the Financial Agreement of 12th February, 1923, entered into between the British and Free State Governments, under which the advances will be made by the British Government. An increase of price by addition of arrears would alter the existing agreements and take them out of the category of "Pending Purchase Agreements."
Payment in lieu of Rent under the Act of 1923 is payable by the tenants pending the vesting of their holdings in the Land Commission on the appointed day and a sum equivalent to the amount collectable is paid to the landlord whether collected from the tenants or not. As the amounts due to the landlords have already been paid they could not be added to the Purchase Moneys they will receive for the holdings.