Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Jul 1933

Vol. 48 No. 16

In Committee on Finance. - Vote 23—Valuation and Boundary Survey.

Minister for Finance (Mr. MacEntee)

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £20,862 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1934, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí na Luachála Generálta agus na Suirbhéireachta Teorann fé sna hAchtanna 15 agus 16 Vict., c.63; 17 Vict., c.8; 17 Vict., c.17; 20 agus 21 Vict., c.45; 22 agus 23 Vict., c.8; 23 Vict., c.4; 27 agus 28 Vict., c.52; 37 agus 38 Vict., c.70; 61 agus 62 Vict., c.37; Uimh. 19 de 1923; agus Uimh. 3 de 1927; Uimh. 27; Uimh. 47 agus Uimh. 55 de 1931; agus Uimh. 19 de 1932; agus fén Ordú Rialtais Aitiúla (Achtacháin d'Oiriúnú agus do chur i mBaint), 1925; maraon le Luacháil Diúité Estáit (10 Edw. 7, c.8).

That a sum not exceeding £20,862 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1934, for the Salaries and Expenses of the General Valuation and Boundary Survey under the Acts 15 and 16 Vict., c.63; 17 Vict., c.8; 17 Vict., c.17; 20 and 21 Vict., c.45; 22 and 23 Vict., c.8; 23 Vict., c.4; 27 and 28 Vict., c.52; 37 and 38 Vict., c.70; 61 and 62 Vict., c.37; No. 19 of 1923; No. 3 of 1927; Nos. 27, 47 and 55 of 1931; and No. 19 of 1932; and under the Local Government (Application and Adaptation of Enactments) Order, 1925; including Estate Duty Valuation (10 Edw. 7, c.8).

Mr. F. Lynch

I think it would be only fair, even in the light of an Estimate of this kind, that the Minister should make some short statement of the activities of the particular Department for which this Vote is asked. For instance, there is a gross total sum of £38,000 being asked for for salaries, travelling expenses, incidental expenses, telegrams, telephones, and an appropriation-in-aid of £6,870, giving a net total of £31,292 expenditure for this particular Department. It is a comparatively big Department, as big as some of the Departments about which we hear a great deal more. I think, especially, in view of the fact that the House these days changes almost yearly, there are a great number of Deputies who do not know, but would like to know, what this is all about. In introducing this Estimate the Minister should give some statement of the activities of the Department. The appropriation-in-aid in this case gives the one and only intimation as to the activities of the Department because there you read the proportion of the cost of the annual revision of valuation that has to be paid for by the several counties and cities and that is the only information we have. It tells us something of the nature of the revision of valuations done. A great many Deputies would like to know how often these revisions are carried out and under what circumstances.

Mr. MacEntee

I quite agree with Deputy Lynch that it would be desirable, possibly, that in relation to all Votes for certain sums, statements should be made to the House by the Minister responsible. But in this regard I am following the precedent set by my predecessors. Apart altogether from that, I think the Deputy is aware that the general hope is that the Estimates should be disposed of this afternoon.

Mr. Lynch

All of them?

Mr. MacEntee

Yes, all of them, so that we may go ahead with the Appropriation Bill, which ought to be in the Seanad this week. If we were even to make brief statements upon every one of these Estimates we certainly would not finish the last of them this evening.

Mr. Lynch

I guarantee to the Minister that Fisheries and Gaeltacht Estimates will take three or four days at least.

Mr. MacEntee

Therefore, I think we ought to economise the time on this, so as to give more time to that Estimate. The definite object of the Department is to carry out the provisions of the Valuation Acts, and the valuation and revisions of tenements as requested by the local authorities. These, indicating the revision required, are furnished by the rating authorities in each particular area. The valuation deals with particulars such as rateable hereditaments, railways, tramways, electric lighting, gasworks, water works, factories, etc., and all businesses with new reconstructions, alterations and additions. In order to carry out this work the valuers are sent to every district in the Free State and an investigation is made into each case in which provision for valuation is requested. If appeals are made against the valuation fixed upon revision a further visit in each case by the valuer is generally necessary. If the appellant is still dissatisfied with the result of the first appeal and proceeds further to the Circuit Court the valuer must prepare evidence and appear at the hearing of the case.

In 1932, the number of tenements dealt with in this way at the annual revision was almost 35,000 and the number of first appeals was over 700. In addition to general appeals against the valuation of property occupied by the Great Northern (Ireland) Railway and the County Donegal Railway, the number of appeals in the Circuit Court was 57. As the Deputy is aware, copies of the revised valuation lists are furnished annually to the local rating authority.

Vote put and agreed to.