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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Nov 1953

Vol. 142 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Valuation Increases.

asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the Valuation Office has increased the valuation of houses of religious orders supported from the charity of the people, and also parish halls in rural areas; and, if so, whether he will take steps, if necessary by the introduction of proposals for legislation, to prevent such increases.

I do not propose to take steps as suggested by the Deputy.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Valuation that under the Valuation Acts the valuation of any building must be revised, regardless of liability for rates or otherwise, if a request for revision is received from the secretary or clerk to the local authority concerned. Houses of religious orders and parish halls, in common with all other buildings, are, therefore, in accordance with the Acts, subject to valuation and, on revision, to increases or decreases in valuation, as the case may be. Under Section 2 of the Valuation (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1854, the Commissioner of Valuation distinguishes as exempt from rating all property occupied for charitable purposes, public purposes, or the purposes of science, literature and the Fine Arts. It is settled law that the houses of religious orders and parish halls are not entitled to be distinguished as exempt from rating on the ground of either charitable or public user.

In view of the fact that the Minister realises, from the information that is at his disposal and at the disposal of the Commissioner of Valuation, that very serious inconvenience has been caused to certain religious orders as a result of the very great increase in valuations, which means an increase in the price of electricity and an increase in the rates and that those institutions are kept up by the charity of the people, does he not consider that, if there is to be legislation covering such cases, it is time such legislation was introduced? Is the Minister further aware of the fact that the members of young farmers' clubs and Muintir na Tíre are erecting parish halls in order that life may be made more attractive in the rural areas for the people so as to encourage them to remain in Ireland?

The Deputy is not asking a question but making a speech.

I am asking the Minister whether he considers it is proper encouragement to give for the erection of parish halls to have thevaluations on them increased to the extent that they are being increased?

I have informed the Deputy that the law has been there for a long time. The Deputy is getting excited about it now, but he had a couple of years during which he might have had some little influence over legislation, but he kept quiet about it. However, the point is this, that in any legislation which is being introduced, provision will be made for the first time, at least for a long number of years, for the remission of rates on new buildings which are subject to rateable valuations.

Does that include religious orders?

I do not know who constituted the Deputy as the defender of religious orders. I do not believe that anyone keen on the defence of religion would appoint a slanderer.

Certainly no one would choose the Minister.

I give that the reply it deserves. It is an ignorant answer from an ignorant man.

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