asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the inordinate delay in having valuations on family farm transfers assessed, consequently causing great hardship to pension applicants; and if he will increase the staff in the office concerned to reduce the backlog.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Family Farm Transfers.
11.
I am advised by the Commissioner of Valuation that the intake of family farm transfers requiring current market valuation has more than doubled in the past two years. Rapidly increasing land prices during the same period have necessitated more detailed treatment of individual cases and this has lengthened the time required to finalise each case. Priority is given to cases where it is indicated that hardship is involved, for example, pension applicants. The staffing levels are being examined in the Valuation Office.
Is the Minister aware that in the priority cases to which he refers, the delays can be for as long as from 12 to 18 months?
I am not so aware.
Would the Minister be concerned at indications of such a situation.
Yes.
Has the Minister any idea of what would be the average delay in dealing with such stamping applications?
No, but I should be surprised if the delay in the case of priority cases was as long as the Deputy indicates. However, in order to give him an indication of the expansion of the demands on the office I can tell him that the total number of cases in 1976 was 7,393, including 2,562 cases of voluntary transfers, that in 1977 the total number was 9,702 of which 3,719 were cases of voluntary transfer and that in 1978 the total number was 12,163 of which 5,293 were cases of voluntary transfers. Efforts have been made to deal with the situation brought about by this expansion and, as I have indicated, the staffing levels in the Valuation Office are being examined with a view to improving the situation.
Assuming that the Minister would be concerned with the situation of pension applicants in respect of whom small farm transfers are being delayed for periods of from 12 to 18 months, could he give any indication of what increase has been effected in staffing levels in the past six months and of what are his proposals to deal with the situation?
I have not got that information here but as I have indicated I should be concerned that delays of the length mentioned by the Deputy would occur in priority cases where the priority element had been indicated to the Valuation Office. If the Deputy has information on cases of that kind, I should be glad to have it.
I know of dozens of such cases.