asked the Minister for Justice whether he has received any complaints that the operations of the Special Unit for the collection of land annuities are in districts preventing a satisfactory response to the recruitment of Local Security Volunteers, and, if so, whether he will take steps to eliminate this element of irritation so as to encourage this vital voluntary work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Collection of Land Annuities.
Mr. Boland
I have received two such complaints, one of which came from the Deputy himself. I have already replied to both these communications, but I may perhaps repeat here that according to the information available to me the arrears of land annuities are higher, in proportion, in County Wicklow than in any other county in the State and arise to a noticeable extent from the failure of a relatively small number of owners of large holdings to discharge their liabilities.
As Deputies are aware, the deficiencies so caused have to be made good at the expense of other ratepayers. It is therefore only right that every reasonable effort should be made to ensure that these liabilities are discharged, if possible, by the persons primarily liable instead of being added to the burdens which others have to bear. That is the object of the special arrangements in County Wicklow. These arrangements are not unduly severe or peremptory; they involve, in fact, little more than the provision of a police car and driver for the conveyance of one of the court messengers in order to expedite the collection of money from defaulters at their own homes. Seizures are very rare; and every effort is made by the officers of the Land Commission and by the under sheriff and the court messenger, to meet any genuine appeal for more time.
Is the Minister not aware that in County Wicklow a large farm might not be a farm of a wealthy farmer? It might be a mountain or bog. The Minister must be aware of the conditions in Wicklow, that the land in the county consists mainly of mountain and bog. He must also be aware that the county is one in which the people have to depend mainly on stock raising and that they have not derived any benefit from wheat growing. As a result they have suffered more severely than most counties from the economic war. For that reason, it is not right or proper that the Minister should specially penalise this county by employing a special force to collect annuities, a force which is extraordinarily expensive, so expensive that in some cases the costs incurred in the collection of arrears far exceed the amount of the arrears. The cost of even one visit varies from 10/- to as high as 30/-. This cost, added to the arrears, has made the arrears uncollectable.
Get them a price for their wool and they will be able to pay their annuities.