Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 1990

Vol. 394 No. 8

Written Answers. - Land Purchase Annuities.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

191 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total amount of arrears of land purchase annuity payments due in respect of Land Commission annuities at 31 December in each year from 1981 to 1988 inclusive; the total number of warrants issued to sheriffs and county registrars for the collection of arrears in each of the above years; whether he is satisfied that all necessary steps are being taken to collect arrears of land purchase annuities; and if all necessary steps are being taken to prevent accumulated arrears arising.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

Arrears of Land Commission annuities due on 31 December each year from 1981 to 1988 were as follows:

Year	Amount
	£
1981	1,298,609
1982	1,490,567
1983	1,816,650
1984	2,667,638
1985	2,867,611
1986	3,536,586
1987	4,260,863
1988	4,832,113

Numbers of warrants issued to sheriffs and County Registrars during each of these years were:

Year	Numbers
1981	Nil
1982	683
1983	Nil
1984	309
1985	Nil
1986	Nil
1987	587
1988	33

Every effort is made to prevent the accumulation of arrears by the timely issue of requests for payment and reminders as appropriate and by visits from inspectors where this is considered necessary.

The success rate in the case of action to recover arrears through sheriffs and County Registrars has not been as high as might be anticipated and alternative arrangements are being considered.