Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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12. To ask the Taoiseach the landlords that his Department or bodies under his aegis paid rent to in each of the past three years; and the amounts paid in each case. [31638/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The properties occupied by my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office are provided and managed by the Office of Public Works.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The intent of the question is to have the Taoiseach identify what rents his Department is paying. I will accept a written answer because I appreciate there are statistics involved. I would like to hear his important answer to the next question so, to facilitate the House, I will accept a detailed written answer on the rents paid by the Department of the Taoiseach and the various offices under its aegis.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will send a reply to Deputy Burton.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Perhaps I could help. I asked this question five years ago. It was revealed that the State was paying ground rent to landlords, such as the Earl of Pembroke for buildings on Merrion Square and the Duke of Leinster, who owns land where the National Library is situated. These ground rents, which are a legacy of our colonial past, are also known as leaseholds. The State's ground rent bill for Iveagh House, where the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade presides, is paid to an absentee landlord. The same applies to Dublin Castle. In the year of the centenary of the Easter Rising, we are perpetuating a system that is a hangover. The money involved is quite small. The ground rent for Iveagh House is a mere €257. That for the Four Courts is a mere €200 and the bill for Dublin Castle is only €7 but there are 250,000 ground rents around the State that have an impact on individual homeowners who want to sell their homes but who need to require the freehold in order to do so. Will the Government consider introducing legislation to end this system once and for all? It is a feudal tax and, as I have said, it is a hangover from the days of British colonial rule on this part of the island and should be abolished.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I recall from many years ago that there were some constitutional issues where ground rents were being paid to absentee landlords and all the rest of it. The law was changed. As far as I know, the majority of leaseholds can be bought out and become freehold but there are some constitutional difficulties with some properties. I will give Deputy Adams a note with an update on the position outlined to him the last time he asked this particular question.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Taoiseach give me a note on the other questions I asked in respect of Question No. 11?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Of course I will. He knows well I will. I will give him full and comprehensive information each time he asks me a question like this.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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Wonderful co-operation between the two gentlemen. That concludes questions to the Taoiseach. We shall now move on to-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Is that it, then?

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I presume it is. I am going by what is on my sheet.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are 11 minutes remaining.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I asked the Deputy whether he wanted to make a contribution.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No. There are many more questions tabled.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I have been given a programme. That is what is in it. If the Taoiseach wants to deal with the next question, I will have no difficulty.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On a point of order, if we are allowed to do so we should dispense with the next question. There are 11 minutes left.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am "game on" here.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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With the agreement of the House, we shall proceed to Question No. 13. There are ten minutes remaining.