Perhaps it might shorten the discussion, to some extent, if I gave a brief resume of the principal points on which the Estimates presented this year differ from those presented last year, especially by way of increase. In doing so, I think I am more or less following the desire expressed from several quarters of the House that such an explanation might be of some use in subsequent discussion. Taking the different sub-heads in Vote 11, we have sub-head (a), that is, the "Purchase of Sites and Buildings," for which a Vote is asked of £30,000, an increase of £20,000 on last year. This, as you can easily gather if you look at the sub-head (b), will be mainly for the purchase of sites for Civic Guard barracks. In all, it is calculated that 820 barracks will be required for the Gárda. Of that number there are at present 822 acquired, but in about 330 cases there are no premises acquired, or else the accommodation is altogether insufficient and not satisfactory. It is with a view to meet that that it will be necessary to purchase sites, and the Estimate for the present year is £30,000.
Coming to sub-head (b)—"New Works, Alterations and Additions"— you have, as a first item, the re-vote of £3,300 from the Vote of last year, in connection with the supply of electric light from the city main to the Governor-General's premises. The situation at present is that the Governor-General's residence is partly lighted by gas and partly by electricity. In the case of electricity, the plant is on the premises and is worked by a gas engine. Now, the proposal is to lay a main up from Parkgate Street, North Circular Road, to the Park main road, and then branch off into the Governor-General's residence. It is calculated in that way that we will be able to make an annual saving of about £500 a year. When it is laid it will be possible to use it in the future for the extension of the electric lighting system to the Park in general.
The Vote for the Oireachtas is purely provisional, that is, we put down £5,000 in connection with some works which will have to be undertaken in Leinster House for the use of the Seanad and other requirements.
Coming to the Revenue Department, "Dublin Customs House partial Reconstruction," it is proposed to spend altogether in restoring the framework of the Customs House, that is, the four portions of the Custom House that look towards the four corners, north, south, east and west, leaving the southern portion of the courtyard undisturbed, existing walls remaining, a sum of £76,000. This year about £30,000 is to be spent. For office space we are gaining about 50,000 square feet. For an ordinary house, such as you have in the Land Commission in Merrion Street, the space is 2,000 square feet. At present we have various private houses scattered over the residential districts, such as Upper Mount Street. By restoring the Customs House to the limited extent I have indicated we will be able to concentrate the offices, bringing them close together, and making better provision for carrying out the work and getting rid of the scattered houses.
In the case of a Vote for Cork City, "Inland Revenue," at present we have to rent premises. They are not sufficient and we will have to rent more. That will be a rental of about £700 a year. We think it is better to get a site and build at a cost of £7,500, and in that way save a rent of £600 or £700 a year.
In the Depôt at the Phoenix Park, under the Department of Justice, you have gas at present, and the cost of supplying electric light under the Estimate is £2,800, which includes the cost of a cable from the Corporation supply. That would be the most suitable way of lighting offices like the Depôt. We also expect it will be more economical. By far the greater number of items under this particular Vote this year is the provision of Gárda Síochána barracks. There are about 330 cases to be met altogether. This year we propose to make a start and go on with about 120 in various counties. Of the 850 barracks required, in the majority of these 330 cases you will have to build or restore the old R.I.C. barracks. The idea is, as far as possible, that the most urgent cases, as indicated to us by the Minister for Justice, will be gone on with, that is, if we can come to an arrangement about the site, and so on, The estimate of the total cost will be almost £200,000. We calculate to spend this year £86,000, according to the urgency of the particular cases in each county. You will notice also in this particular Vote that if we take the total Vote for any barrack that there is a difference between the amount to be spent this year and the proportion we expect to have to give for next year. By that time we expect to be able to deal with the different barracks—I was going to say attack the different barracks, but it might not be a happy expression. In a good many cases the provision of suitable barracks in these 330 cases can be dealt with in the most economic and suitable way by getting the old R.I.C. barracks restored. In some cases the owners are willing, if they receive compensation, to re-build and then let them to us. In other cases the owners prefer we should purchase from them the site, ruins, and claim for compensation.
There is another point, and it is a very little one; that is that in connection with County Cork you have Rathmore given. I thought that that was another instance of the well-known acquisitiveness of the people of Cork, but I understand it is only a misprint. It is not Rathmore, which is one of the most loyal districts in County Kerry, but it is Rathduff, which is in the County of Cork. The Cork people, therefore, are free from any blame in the matter. Then there are minor works, coming to the end of the list, of Civic Guard Barracks, £10,000.
