asked the Minister for Finance when the present valuation was placed on agricultural and other lands; how long it took to complete the valuation of the whole country; what criteria were used in deciding on the valuation; and if different criteria were used in different parts of the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Valuations.
35.
The Valuation (Ireland) Act, 1852, provided for the primary valuation of the country. This valuation, which was popularly known as "Griffith's Valuation", was commenced in 1853 and completed in 1865. As provided in section 11 of the 1852 Act, the general basis of land valuation was its estimated net annual value with reference to a specified scale of agricultural prices; this basis was applied generally all over the country.
36.
asked the Minister for Finance how many acres in each county are valued (a) over one pound sterling per acre, (b) between one pound sterling and ten shillings per acre and (c) under ten shillings per acre.
The information sought is contained in the original manuscript records of the primary valuation—Griffith's Valuation—which was carried out under the Valuation (Ireland) Act, 1852. Information such as is required by the Deputy has never been extracted from these records. It would take an inordinate amount of research and a very considerable time to compile it now. Should the Deputy be interested in any particular area the Commissioner of Valuation would be glad to make the relevant books and maps available for his inspection.
Can the Minister say whether wheat growing put the valuation very high?
I think the Deputy is right. Land in which there was wheat growing at that time was rated highly.
A lot of it is now under water.