Bill paves the way for a write-off of small land annuities, including arrears writes Seán Mac Connell, Agriculture Correspondent
Thousands of farmers and many GAA clubs and community groups throughout the State will benefit under the terms of the new Land Bill, details of which were revealed by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, at the weekend.
The Bill, which provides for a number of amendments to the Land Acts arising from the dissolution of the Land Commission in 1998, will provide a write-off and buyout for existing land purchase annuities.
It will also facilitate the transfer of land used by sports clubs and community groups who currently operate on Land Commission trust property at the request of the trustees.
The Minister said that this would remove the current onerous legal, financial and ongoing management burdens placed on trustees as individuals and would facilitate the transfer of land currently used by sports clubs and community groups to such organisations.
"In particular, some 250 GAA grounds around the country, at present requiring Ministerial intervention to appoint trustees, should be transferred to full GAA ownership. It is hoped that this will enable the development of these lands, resulting in better facilities and grounds," the Minister said in a statement.
The Bill paves the way for a write-off of small land annuities including arrears, where the annual sum payable was not more than €200 per annum, and introduces a scheme to allow farmers with annuities over this amount to buy them out at a discount of 25 per cent, subject to outstanding arrears being paid in full.
"It is intended that the discounted buyout scheme will be available for a limited period following the enactment of the Bill," the Minister added.
Mr Walsh said this was good news for nearly 7,000 farmers. The discount of 25 per cent subject to all outstanding arrears being paid in full is one element of this proposed legislation. Another feature of the Bill is it facilitates the enhanced collection powers of the Department, making it more difficult for annuitants to fall into debt.
He urged all annuitants to actively consider the generous discounted buyout scheme. For cost effective reasons some 4,200 farmers who had small annuities of not more than €200 per annum will have their debt written off.
These provisions could, if the discounted buyout is fully taken up, extinguish the further collection of land annuities and bring to a close an outdated land purchase mechanism originating in the 19th century.
The Bill, which meets a commitment contained in the farming element of the Sustaining Progress Agreement, will reduce bureaucracy in the repeal of both Section 12 and Section 45 of the Land Act 1965.
Section 12 was introduced at a time when there was a need for comprehensive control of the division, letting or leasing of agricultural land and when the former Land Commission was primarily engaged in the elimination of congestion and fragmentation of agricultural land. Now that the State is no longer engaged in acquiring or redistributing land there is no need for continuing sub-division control.
The Bill will also amend Section 45 under which the consent of the Minister must be obtained before non-EU or EEA nationals may purchase agricultural land in the State.
The section has been amended several times to make it consistent with our European membership obligations. With further enlargement of the European Union, the section currently imposed unnecessary red tape and additional costs on those buying or selling land, Mr Walsh concluded.