asked the Minister for Defence if he will state what is a Dry Canteen, and what is its function in a military barracks; and whether a present invitation to tender for such at Cork, Bandon, Kinsale, Fermoy, Haulbowline, Tralee, Bantry, Kilkenny, Clonmel, and Waterford is addressed exclusively to "Licensed Traders."
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DRY CANTEENS.
A Dry Canteen in a barracks is a saloon in which are sold hot and cold foods and non-alcoholic drinks, including tea, coffee and cocoa and other luxuries and necessaries usually purchased by soldiers. The invitation to tender referred to by the Deputy has reference in most cases to barracks in which owing to conditions of accommodation and numbers of troops it is necessary to combine the dry and wet canteens in the same rooms. In these cases it is essential that the contractors should be licensed traders. In the other cases it is convenient from an administrative point of view to have both canteens run by the same trader who obviously must be licensed. The invitation was, therefore, addressed to licensed traders.
Does the President realise the very great objection to such a course, and does he understand that it would probably infringe the terms of the present Intoxicating Liquor Bill if that Bill passes?
I take it that the Deputy means it is inadvisable to have both of these institutions carried on in the same premises?
Yes.
We have no election in the matter. The accommodation, I understand, is limited. Where there is suitable accommodation, I take it both these places would be kept separate. But only in these particular instances—Cork, Bandon, Kinsale, Fermoy, Clonmel, and Waterford—by reason of the lack of accommodation, these two particular canteens are carried on within the same room.
Does the President contend that in Micheal Barracks, Cork, it would not be possible to separate the dry canteen from the wet canteen?
If that be the barracks on the top of the hill, I should say there is very limited accommodation there, unless the place has been very much improved since I was there last.
Was it in the canteen the Minister was?
No; in the barracks.
Does the Minister suggest that the persons likely to be affected by this will have the option of saying whether it shall be a dry or a wet canteen, and that there shall be no duplication?
The term, "dry canteen," or "wet canteen" is not exactly descriptive of what it means. I should say that a wet canteen would mean one in which articles were sold which had no sugar in them. That is not the description in the Army. It means one in which intoxicating liquor is sold. It is very desirable to have dry canteens. I believe they have been a great success, but the accommodation in certain barracks is extremely limited. In that particular barracks I saw in Cork there was a roof on about 120 yards of the entire building. The rest was burnt. In that case I should say there is not sufficient accommodation to allow of two separate saloons, and consequently the two had to be combined in one.
Will the Minister consider, in the case of a place like Cork, which is bound to be an important military station, the desirability of providing accommodation for a dry canteen as soon as possible?
Is the Minister aware that there is a sum of £20,000 in this year's estimates for improving those barracks in Cork?
The fact that that sum is down in the estimates does not mean that the accommodation is there. We must wait some time for that.
In view of the Minister's statement, would it be possible, as we are to remain here for some time, to separate the dry from the wet canteen in the Dáil?
Might I ask the President whether the canteens are controlled by his Department or by a Committee, or does the Government derive any benefit from the canteens?
No. Any benefits are applied to whatever purposes the soldiers themselves desire.
That is not the point. I want to know whether the contractors who supply the canteens subscribe to any organisation like the Red Cross or the hospitals, such as has been done by the Canteen Board in England, which subscribed handsomely to the Red Cross Funds. Do the contractors take all the profits, or do they give anything back for the upkeep of the hospitals, or for the convalescent treatment of soldiers?
I understand there are profits and that those profits are apportioned to purposes which the soldiers themselves desire. I am not positively certain as to whether they are devoted to such purposes as Red Cross work or hospitals.