asked the Minister for Justice if he will state (a) the amount of money paid annually in ground rents in the Republic; (b) the amount paid annually to persons living outside the Republic, and (c) if he intends to introduce proposals for legislation at an early date to deal with the question of ground rents.

No statistics of the kind required by the Deputy are available.

With regard to the last part of the question, it is not proposed to introduce legislation dealing with the purchase of ground rents. The Rents and Leaseholds Commission are at present investigating some other aspects of the ground rent problem, i.e., the renewal under Part V of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1931, of certain long leases. When the commission's report is received, the question of legislating to give effect to their recommendations will be considered.

Am I to understand that there is no Department of State which can supply the information asked for in the first part of the question?

There is not. The Statisties Office state that they have not got that information available.

Why not ask the Revenue Commissioners?

Could the Minister not ask the Central Statistics Office if they could make an estimate as distinct from a reliable figure?

The Central Statistics Office does not commit itself to estimates until it is on such solid ground as will enable it to give reliable estimates.

The Revenue Commissioners have the actual figures.

They have not, from that answer.

Of course they have.