asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that forms were received by post by a number of bog owners in County Mayo asking for details of income received from turf bogs during the years 1944, 1945 and 1946; and if he will state whether this information is for the purpose of enabling the rating authorities to increase the valuation on such bog land for rating purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Income from Turf Bogs.
I am aware that the Valuation Office sent forms this year to persons in County Mayo whose names the county council had listed as being the occupiers of turf bogs or turf banks which they desired to have valued or revalued for rating purposes. In accordance with normal procedure, details of income and expenditure in each case for the years 1944, 1945 and 1946 were sought to enable the rateable value to be determined. Where turbary already has a valuation such valuation may be increased, decreased or left unchanged as a result of the revision, according to the circumstances of the case.
Is the Minister aware that the grazing rent is equal to any income received by the tenants of these bogs?
That could not be true.
Is the Minister also aware that these bogs were acquired compulsorily during the emergency and is it fair to revalue them simply because these people did something which helped during the emergency?
The Valuation Office have to carry out their functions. If they are asked by a county council to revalue a bog, they have to do it.
Is the Minister aware that throughout the whole of Mayo a number of small farmers have got forms to fill in showing what capital sums they have made out of turf production during such-and-such a year? Is he also aware that a patriotic appeal was made by the county surveyor of Mayo, and I assume by the county surveyor of every other county, asking small farmers to try to minimise the cartage of fuel by increasing turf production on private bogs? If these small farmers are asked to fill forms, it inevitably will mean an increase in the valuation of the turf bogs which they got for their own production, but, due to their patriotism and sense of duty, they tried to help to make up the shortage of fuel. Does the Minister consider that that is fair?
Anyone who cuts turf on his own bog for his own use is not revalued.
Is the Minister aware that if these people who got these bogs for their own use refrained from increasing turf production during the emergency the result would be a shortage of fuel?
If they did it for their own use, there is no revaluation.
Was there not an appeal issued by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Industry and Commerce and county surveyors for increased turf production? I consider it a shame and a disgrace.