asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether the valuation on the turf banks of Mr. James Crowley, Crag, Knockalough, County Clare, and Mr. Thomas McCarthy, Beloughery, Lissycasey, County Clare, will now be reviewed or cancelled in the light of the fact that these two ratepayers do not now produce turf for sale, but for their own personal use.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Valuation of Turf Banks.
The properties mentioned by the Deputy fall to be dealt with in the current year's annual revision of valuations, assuming the owners made application for their revision through the secretary of the county council by the statutory date, that is, the 15th June last. As the documents relating to revisions of properties in the districts concerned are in transit between the Valuation Office and the valuer engaged on revision work in those districts, I cannot say at present what is the precise position in regard to the two turbaries in question.
For the Deputy's information I may say that, under Section 12 of the Valuation (Ireland) Act, 1852, the valuation of a turf bog is based on the net profit from lettings or from the sale of turf produced on the bog. No valuation is fixed unless the owner of the bog derives such a profit. If the profit decreases or ceases, the owner can request a downward revision of the valuation or to have it struck out altogether. Properties listed for revision before the 15th June in any year come within the scope of the annual revisions for that year and any consequential changes in valuation become effective as from the commencement of the following rating year. Neither the Commissioner of Valuation nor the Minister for Finance has any power of initiative in the matter of revision of valuations.