asked the Minister for Justice the number of ground rents purchased to date in each month since the introduction of the legislation regulating the position; if he has satisfied himself with progress in this regard; the percentage of the total ground rents in the State purchased under the legislation and when he proposes to introduce further legislation to abolish all existing ground rents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ground Rents.
49.
The special purchase scheme came into operation on 1 August 1978. From that date to 17 June 1980, 5,210 vesting certificates were issued through the Land Registry under that scheme. The monthly breakdown of that figure is set out in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report. There is no figure available for the total number of domestic ground rents in the State.
It is of course, a matter for each owner-occupier concerned to decide for himself or herself whether to take advantage of the exceptionally favourable scheme now available or not to do so. Over 32,000 application forms have been issued and inquiries continue to be received at a steady rate. The evidence suggests that the existence of the scheme is widely known and also suggests that people are interested but are in no special hurry to proceed to the acquisition of a freehold. There is another factor, namely, an organised public campaign, with attendent publicity, designed to persuade people not to avail themselves of the scheme. I can only say that I think that that is bad advice and will in time be proved to be so, though the people who are giving that advice will not, of course, be accountable to anybody for the consequences.
Following is the statement:
Number of ground rents purchased to date in each month since the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act, 1978, came into operation.
|
1978 |
1979 |
1980 |
|
|
January |
240 |
313 |
|
|
February |
165 |
309 |
|
|
March |
328 |
356 |
|
|
April |
552 |
250 |
|
|
May |
287 |
314 |
|
|
June |
121 |
104 |
|
|
(to 17 June) |
|||
|
July |
323 |
||
|
August |
0 |
304 |
|
|
September |
0 |
249 |
|
|
October |
45 |
242 |
|
|
November |
70 |
342 |
|
|
December |
141 |
155 |
In view of the fact that the much heralded scheme, which was alleged to lead to the abolition of ground rents in fact has resulted to date in the abolition—if one could call it that—of approximately 5,000 such ground rents, leaving many thousands still in existence, does the Minister consider that the pledge which his party made that they would introduce a scheme which would lead to the abolition of ground rents has been honoured? If so, how can he justify the massive public apathy which exists to a scheme which clearly does nothing whatever to abolish ground rents altogether?
Whatever view the Deputy may wish to take as to how the present scheme measures up to any undertaking my party gave, he cannot be in any doubt about the fact that the scheme is much more favourable to owner-occupiers than the scheme promoted by the previous government. That cannot be denied.
I accept that.
The previous Government refused to make any financial contribution to the scheme. They made no bones about that. It was their policy and they defended it.
I agree with what the Minister said. But is the Minister aware that the relative attraction of the scheme has nothing whatever to do with it? The question I want to ask him is: does he accept that his party's election manifesto made a promise that the Government would introduce a scheme which will lead to the abolition of ground rents? There the words "will and "abolish" are quite categoric and clear. To date 5,000 have been abolished—if one can describe it as such—but many thousands of others have not. I want to know when legislation will be introduced which will, without equivocation, hesitation or ambiguity, lead to the abolition of ground rents because legislation to date has not done that?
In view of the decision of the Coalition Government in this regard, now that the Deputy places such strong emphasis on his words to-day——
The Minister did.
——It is time that he would, in all fairness, indicate to this House and to the nation generally that they intend to introduce some radical legislation in this regard and take a decision as to how they will handle the question of either confiscation or compensation.
Who is in Government?
Deputy Keating cannot remain on this question all evening.
Would the Minister accept that it takes some gall for him to come in here and talk about us indicating policy in this matter, this coming from a party which to my knowledge never produced a policy document of any kind, except this manifesto?
Would the Deputy please ask a supplementary when he has been given permission to do so?
All right: I want to ask the Minister: like a man, is he willing to give a guarantee that he will introduce the necessary legislation which, without evasion or ambiguity, will lead to the abolition of existing ground rents, as his party promised this country in 1977. That is my question, and no amount of jibing about the Opposition or anybody else will evade that issue.
The Deputy has already asked that question. He is not entitled to ask it again.
I have answered the question. In the light of some of the concern expressed in my reply about bad advice given, I would much prefer if the Deputy would commit himself to giving me support——
If the Minister wants us to do the job, we gladly will.
We are now getting into argument. Deputy Horgan.
(Interruptions.)
We will be quite happy to do the job. What is the Minister's party going to do about the commitment they made?
Any commitment made by Fianna Fáil has been honoured.
Many people are going to prison for not paying ground rents, the Minister's party has imprisoned them.
Disruptive practices in the House will not get any more out of me.
Well, the Minister——
Deputy Keating must obey the Chair some time or other.
Can the Minister of State tell us—in view of the certainty attached to the Fianna Fáil commitment to introduce schemes which will lead to the abolition of existing ground rents—the date by which he expects existing ground rents will have been abolished under those schemes?
I can assure the Deputy that if he puts down a question I will be prepared to give him the answer he requires.
Question No. 50 is for written reply.
Would the Minister identify the vested interest which is prohibiting the Fianna Fáil Party from moving in this direction?
Question No. 51.
Where is the money coming from?