asked the Minister for Finance the number of cases since June, 1977 in which negotiations have commenced for the acquisition of freehold title to premises owned by the Government on which ground rent is payable; and the date on which, in each such case, negotiations were commenced and concluded.

The number of cases since June 1977 in which negotiations have commenced for the acquisition of freehold title to premises owned by the Government on which ground rent is payable is six. The position about the relevant cases is as follows:

None of these cases is yet concluded.

Could the Minister say whether after the passage of voluminous legislation inaugerated by his Government he expects to have bought the ground rents of the GPO by the time this Government leave office?

That will mean a wait.

Given that the Government is only in the process of purchasing six out of about 300 or 400 ground rents, could the Minister indicate what Government policy is in relation to the purchase of ground rents? Have they a policy to buy them all out or only some of them?

We intend to purchase all of them as soon as possible.

Does the Minister expect to be in office for the next 20 years so that he can proceed to conclude the purchase of the remaining 300——

That is scarcely a supplementary question. It is rather like a statement.

It definitely contains argument.

I would think it does. Deputy Cluskey is helping the Chair at this stage.

On the basis of the progress made to date — six over a period of 18 months or two years — it is not an unreasonable arithmetic conclusion to reach. Could the Minister say, if his brief contains the information, how many ground rents — and they have bought nothing yet — they propose to enter into negotiation for in the coming year?

(Cavan-Monaghan): They have no money to buy with.

In addition to the cases listed we served notice on 28 April 1980 in respect of Union Quay Garda Station Cork and Cork Model School.

Would the Minister not agree that the Government's action in trying to buy out six ground rents at a rate of approximately two per year since 1977 does not exactly set a headline for the hundreds of thousands of private ground rent payers who were invited to vote for his party on the ground that ground rents would be abolished when they were returned to office?

We have done our best to have the ground rents purchased as soon as possible, and we shall continue to do so.

Is the Government's reluctance to attempt to purchase the ground rents arising out of either the fact that they have no money or the fact that the legislation which they brought in does not work efficiently?

It is neither the fact that we are short of money nor that the legislation is not adequate. We are proceeding as quickly as possible in trying to purchase these ground rents and we shall continue to do so.

Would it be fair to suggest if you have the money and the legislation works that it is simply incompetence that is preventing you from buying them out?

I do not accept that.

That does not appear to be a supplementary question.

Arising out of the Minister's initial reply, could he assure the House that there is no danger of the ground rent landlord of the GPO selling the premises before the Government have bought the ground rent?

Question No. 18 for written reply.