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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 22 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 6

Written Answers. - Agricultural Land Prices.

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

36 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on the substantial increase in costs of agricultural land which was recorded in the third quarter of 1999 by the Central Statistics Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17774/00]

CSO figures for average agricultural land prices show a clear rising trend, while the total area of land sold has decreased in recent years. In the third quarter of 1999 the average price of agricultural land rose to £9,541 per hectare, an increase of 20% over the previous quarter. The increase in price reflects, at least to some extent, the increasing scarcity of agricultural land being put up for sale. Only 1,248 hectares of agricultural land were sold in the third quarter of 1999, a decline of 47% over the previous quarter.

Increases in land prices can be seen in a number of other EU member states. According to EUROSTAT figures, between 1990 and 1998 agricultural land prices rose in real terms by 44% in Ireland, 28% in Denmark, 20% in the Netherlands and 119% in Northern Ireland. However, land prices in Ireland in 1998 were still less than those in Denmark, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and England, and only 60% of the average price in Northern Ireland.

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