I move:
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £10 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st day of March, 1973, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, including certain services administered by that Office and for payment of sundry grants-in-aid.
The gross amount required in this Supplementary Estimate is actually £1,085,000 but there will be an offset of a surplus of £40,000 on Appropriations-in-Aid. Offsetting savings on other Subheads of the Vote, in respect of the capital provision for the Industrial Development Authority and for Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd., amount to £1,044,990 and consequently the net amount required is £10.
The main items making up the total of the gross Supplementary Estimate are:—
£100,000 for salaries, wages and allowances required mainly to meet the cost of measures to implement price control;
£400,000 for the Industrial Development Authority to meet increased advertising and promotional activities and salary increases;
£122,000 for the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd. mainly for increased promotional effort and maintenance work on their properties;
£100,000 for technical assistance to meet claims expected to be lodged before 31st March, 1973, and £140,000 to provide assistance for the wool textile industry.
In the main the Supplementary Estimate arises from increased activities under the various headings. It is an Estimate which in any event my predecessor would have had to bring before this House. The increased gross amount of the Supplementary Estimate is necessary although the total is offset by savings as I have said so that the net amount required is £10.
I recommend this Supplementary Estimate to the House.
