asked the Minister for Lands the total amount of revenue collected at present by way of tithe rents, Crown rents and Cromwellian quit rents by the Quit and Crown Rents Office; and the annual cost of the upkeep of that office including salaries and overhead expenses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Quit and Crown Rents Office.
63.
Some £10,000 in respect of approximately 4,280 tithe rent and other charges, together with £900 in respect of approximately 500 quit rent accounts, is collectable annually by the Church Temporalities Branch and Quit Rent Office of the Land Commission.
The estimated cost of administration and management of this office in the year 1971-72 is £7,000, which amount is fully recouped from the Church Surplus Fund.
Could the Minister tell me what purpose is really being served by keeping this office open?
I had to ask that question myself when I was considering this reply. The answer is "not very much".