asked the Minister for Finance whether it has been decided that purchasers of houses which are at present owned by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Land Trust will be exempt from the 3 per cent. stamp duty which at present applies to purchasers of nonsubsidy houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Soldiers' and Sailors' Land Trust Houses.
In the case of ordinary sales of lands and houses to Irish citizens and analogous classes of persons the 3 per cent. rate of stamp duty is not payable unless the consideration for the sale exceeds £950. Actually, where the consideration does not exceed £500 the rate is only 10/- per cent., and for considerations between £500 and £950 there is a graduated scale of duties rising from 1 per cent. to 2.8 per cent.
There is no special relief or exemption from stamp duty in favour of sales of houses by the Irish Soldiers' and Sailors' Land Trust. As I have already indicated, however, the 3 per cent. rate will not apply in any case unless the consideration for the sale exceeds £950.