asked the Minister for Fisheries if he is aware of the number of landholders in Donegal who are in arrears of rent due to the Land Commission, and, further, what steps, if any, the Minister intends to take in order to extend the period of payment of these arrears, so as to prevent the issuing of writs and the causing of much hardship to these landholders.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ANNUITY ARREARS IN DONEGAL.
A considerable number of tenants in Co. Donegal have not paid their land purchase annuities and other payments due to the Land Commission. Unpaid land purchase annuities are met by deductions from the Guarantee Fund, thus reducing the grants in aid of local taxation and thereby increasing the burden on those tenants who have discharged their own liability. It is not proposed to extend the period of payment of arrears.
In view of the fact that certain deductions are made from the Guarantee Fund, and taking into consideration the poverty prevailing, especially in the Gaeltacht in Donegal, would the Parliamentary Secretary arrange to have these evictions and seizures suspended for the time being?
The Land Commission is under statutory obligation to carry out the collection of these annuities.
Would there be no possibility for the Minister to extend the period of time for the execution of these decrees; and is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that when the stock of these people is seized they have to turn the key in the door and emigrate to America?
I have already explained that when land annuities remain unpaid the amount is met by grants out of local taxation; in other words, they fall on the local rates, and the funds from which they are drawn are not recouped until the money is repaid. We frequently receive resolutions from county councils complaining of the amount of arrears outstanding, and that in order to meet the deficiency they have to increase the rates by a corresponding amount.