asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (1) the number of valuers employed for work in the city of Dublin and the rest of the country, respectively, by the Commissioner of Valuation, (2) the average time taken to make a valuation in the city and in the country, (3) the present position with regard to arrears of work in the Valuation Office, and (4) whether there is a possibility of having local valuers employed with a view to avoiding accumulation of arrears in country districts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Valuation Office Statistics.
7.
(1) The number of valuer staff employed by the Commissioner of Valuation is 34, all of whom are available for work whether inside or outside the city of Dublin as the requirements of the Valuation Office demand.
(2) I am informed by the Commissioner of Valuation that without considerable research, for which staff cannot be made available in the Valuation Office at the present time due to the statutory obligation on the Commissioner to issue the revised valuation lists by 1st March, 1960, it would not be possible to state the average time taken to make a valuation. In view of the different types of valuation work performed in the Valuation Office, it is doubtful if a precise figure could be ascertained.
(3) The general correspondence work of the Valuation Office is not in arrears to any appreciable degree. The current revision of valuations is due to be completed and the revised Valuation Lists will be issued by 1st March, 1960. There are substantial arrears of work in relation to estate duty valuations.
(4) While the staffing of the Valuation Office is at present under review with the object, inter alia, of obviating arrears, there is no intention to employ local valuers, as suggested by the Deputy.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in some cases, as long as 12 months elapse between the filing of an estate duty account and the valuation by the Commissioner's valuer, and that the administration of estates is held up for considerable periods because of lack of sufficient valuers? Would the Parliamentary Secretary not reconsider the possibility of appointing independent local valuers? I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to remember that auctioneers down the country are just as dependable as some of the gentlemen sent from the city of Dublin. Would he not consider appointing some of these to do this work which has now fallen so far into arrears?
And I may add that the auctioneer can be very helpful.
I am sure the Deputy is well aware there are certain things which would not make it advisable to have local or temporary valuers appointed.
Bring them in from the neighbouring counties.
It is a post better suited to permanent civil servants only.
Who know nothing whatever about the valuation of property.