asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider controlling the sale of agricultural land for housing purposes where the public services are available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Agricultural Land.
21.
I understand that the Deputy is concerned with the type of case where land which was purchased at a price based on its agricultural use subsequently becomes available for housing development because of the provision or extension of public water supply and sewerage services, and changes hands at an enhanced price.
I have been considering for some time whether it would be possible to devise a workable system whereby speculation in scarce serviced land would be discouraged and the increase in the value of land attributable to the provision of services and the designation by local planning authorities of land for development to meet the needs of the community would be recouped to the benefit of the community and not be turned to private profit. The matter is extremely complex and difficult and the problem involved does not lend itself to any easy solution. I have pointed out on a number of occasions that while it might appear that the obvious solution to the problem would be to bring all building land into public ownership, this would entail the most serious constitutional, legal financial and administrative problems. Examination of the matter is continuing. Meanwhile, in order to increase the supply of building land at reasonable prices, I have encouraged local authorities to acquire land suitable for development and to facilitate the opening up of further lands by the provision of services.
Does the Minister now not admit that he can do nothing about it and is prepared to allow speculators to continue indiscriminately in this matter?
No. I am still not prepared to admit that I will not be able to do anything about it.
The Minister is delaying. He said just now that the only answer is to nationalise the land and he is not prepared to do that, but he will allow speculators to continue as they have been doing.
The Minister said it is a difficult matter.
What he means is it is a delicate matter.
He may disturb some friends.
I did not say nationalisation was the only solution: I said it was the obvious solution and the one which presented itself to my mind at first, but to deal with the problem in this way presents very serious constitutional difficulties which I have not been able to overcome. That does not mean I have given up all hope of being able to deal with this very serious social problem.
Would the Minister be prepared to set up a committee of the Dáil to study this matter?
I will carry out my own responsibilities.
The Minister is obviously not able for the job.
It will take a considerable amount of time because it is a difficult and a complex matter. With regard to the committee, I would not expect to be assisted in any way by the Deputy or his party.
Is the Minister aware that other democratic countries have solved this delicate matter and have legislation controlling the situation?
I am not so aware and, even if they have legislation, they have not got our Constitution.
Would the Minister examine British practice in this regard? He may find there some legislation which would benefit him, particularly as we have now had from him today a disclosure of conscience in that he is now, at long last, concerned about these excessive prices.
It was I raised this originally. It was I drew the Labour Party's attention to the problem. The system adopted in Britain has not been a success by any means and I am bound by our Constitution, which does not extend to that country.
But it is very much better than what we have here. We have no system here.
I will allow no further supplementaries.
Would the Minister agree that certain friends in Government are benefiting personally from the continuance of the present system?
That is all "old hat".
It is true.
The Deputy should address that question to his own colleague, who usually sits on his left hand side whenever he does come into the House, Deputy Keating, who, in fact, can be shown to have actually engaged in speculation unlike the member of the Government to whom the Deputy refers.