§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked whether the Commissioner of Valuation in Ireland has valued any, and how many, tenements in Dublin on the requisition of the Corporation of Dublin since the com- 2051W mencement of the general revaluation of the city; in how many such cases was the valuation increased; and are the rates levied on these increased modern valuations of individual tenements, while all the rest of the city remains at the old low valuation until the indefinitely deferred general valuation is completed?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSESince the commencement of the Revaluation of Dublin 1,539 cases were reported by the Rate Collectors and revalued. In 420 of these the valuation was increased. In 578 the valuation was struck out altogether. The balance was composed of new houses valued for the first time. In addition there were 1,022 cases of applications for revision sent in by ratepayers. As this revision has been going on for the past fifty years the proportion of the City not revised is comparatively small. The rates are levied alike on all rateable hereditaments set out in the valuation lists.
§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked what is the shortest time in which the revaluation of Dublin could be completed if the Commissioner's staff was increased; how long did the revaluation of Belfast take; and how many, more or less, tenements to be valued were there in Belfast than in Dublin?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am informed by the Commissioner of Valuation that he does not consider that the revaluation lists can be issued in less than three years unless the staff is increased by the employment of English valuers, who would be unacquainted with the conditions of tenure and local circumstances in Dublin. The revaluation of Belfast began in 1899 and came into force in 1906. There were about 30,000 more tenements to be valued in Belfast, but, owing to its being a new, and Dublin an old, city, no comparison can be fairly made in regard to the rate at which the work can be carried out in each.
Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGH alsoasked how many persons, on the average, were employed in the Valuation Office, Dublin, in the year preceding the commencement of the revaluation of Dublin in 1907; and what has been the average number employed in each year since?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe number of persons employed in the Valuation Office in the year before the revaluation of Dublin began was 104. The average number employed since is 107; but, as the revision2052W staff was reduced by two clerks owing to a falling off in certificate work, the net increase is five.